Sharing The Functional Training Advantages
As a fitness professional, you probably know that functional training offers distinct advantages to your members, including improved balance and coordination.1 And while it’s a great option for all ages, offering functional training positions your facility to meet the needs of aging populations while supporting their retention. If you’re ready to start offering functional training, be sure to share these proven benefits with everyone at your fitness facility.
1) Improved Heart Health
Functional training offers an effective way to reduce heart disease, the top cause2 of global mortality in older adults. That’s because it addresses common risk factors by enhancing overall fitness, lowering blood pressure, and improving blood sugar and blood lipids.2
2) More Efficient & Effective
While traditional strength training popularity continues to soar, functional training can be a more time-efficient option for busy adults. Studies comparing traditional strength and functional training show that while both build muscle, functional training took less time to deliver similar results.3
3) Enhance Exercise Motivation
Once they try it, your members will stick with functional training because the consistent personal challenge and coordination benefits are highly motivating.4 The results of functional training are also obvious in everyday life. When your people notice their physical progress during home-based tasks, they’ll be sure to come back for more.
4) Improved Coordination & Sports Performance
Functional training helps maintain the coordination that allows us to keep improving at the sports and hobbies that bring joy to our lives. For example, just two months of functional training improved golfing performance in older individuals, including enhanced club head speed and driving distances.5 It also improves performance in racquet sports better than traditional training6 and boosts tennis performance as well.7
5) Instant Mood Benefits
Functional training offers special advantages for improving quality of life because it makes it easier to complete the activities of daily living. A major benefit of functional training is improved vitality, helping people feel more energetic and enthusiastic each day. Best of all, the mood boost starts right away, with a single functional training session fostering a positive attitude that lasts about one hour.8
Karlie Intlekofer, PhD, CNC, CPT
References
- Intlekofer. Redefine Healthy Aging with Functional Training. Research Hub 2024; available at: https://research.matrixlearningcenter.com/eng/health-span-aging/redefine-healthy-aging-with-functional-training
- GBD 2019 Disease and Injuries Collaborators. Global burden of 369 diseases and injuries in 204 countries and territories, 1990–2019: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019. Global Health Metrics 2020; 396: 10258. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(20)30925-9
- Batrakoulis et al. Comparative efficacy of 5 exercise types on cardiometabolic health in overweight and obese adults: A systematic review and network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Circ Cardiovasc Qual Outcomes 2022; 15: e008243. https://doi.org/10.1161/CIRCOUTCOMES.121.008243
- Feito et al. Effects of eight weeks of high intensity functional training on glucose control and body composition among overweight and obese adults. Sports 2019; 7(2): 51. https://doi.org/10.3390/sports7020051
- Heinrich et al. High-intensity compared to moderate-intensity training for exercise initiation, enjoyment, adherence, and intentions: an intervention study. BMC Public Health 2014; 14: 789. https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2458-14-789
- Thompson et al. Functional training improves club head speed and functional fitness in older golfers. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research 2007; 21(1): 131-7.
https://doi.org/10.1519/00124278-200702000-00024
7. Liu et al. Effects of functional training on the hitting quality of tennis players. Rev Bras Med Esporte 2023; 29. https://doi.org/10.1590/1517-8692202329012022_0620
8. Wu et al. Influence of functional training on teaching table tennis to college students. Rev Bras Med Esporte 2023; 29. https://doi.org/10.1590/1517-8692202329012022_0720
9. Pantaleao et al. A single functional training session induces positive emotions and post-exercise hypotension. Science & Sports 2022; 37: 498. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scispo.2021.03.010
