Good News Tucson - A Family Values Publication

Movement Matters
A Lesson In Functional Training

by Vera Knight

Falling is a very real danger for many people. Too often, falls can lead to broken bones, hospitalization, and sometimes life-threatening conditions.

A less extreme, but still real situation is when a person lacks the leg strength to get out of a chair. Or someone who throws out their back picking up a child or taking the groceries from the trunk of the car.

Did you know that this is not inevitable? With consistent and effective exercise, you will maintain your muscle and be able to accomplish daily activities without injury.

You may have heard the buzzwords “functional training.” Functional training may sound complicated, but it really is the most effective way to strengthen your body for everyday movements.

This could be movement for your job, working in the garden, a sport or just picking up your kids or grandkids. You see, most injuries happen in the course of our everyday lives.

Strengthen your body for these activities and you will come upon less injury. Functional training also improves balance. This is essential for preventing falls. A combination of strength and balance will give you the confidence to move through your day with ease!

It takes simple equipment such as stability balls, bosu balls, training on the CorePole using resistance bands . There are several good DVD’s that can teach you many exercises. You can also hire a personal trainer for a few sessions so you can learn proper techniques.

Functional training is more effective than traditional “gym” strength training machines because more muscles are used and the body becomes more coordinated and strong as a result.

A great exercise we teach our clients is the squat. We use this motion all day long – getting up from a chair, or picking an object up from the ground, as examples. Learn to squat properly and do it consistently and you will remain strong, independent, and less prone to injury.

Vera Knight is the owner of Focus Fitness Personal Training Studio. www.focusfitnesstucson.com or
call 520-404-2069.