Functional Strength

What Is Functional Strength Training
Functional strength training is the new buzz work for fitness trainers to show their clients their "expertise" and not get them results. Usually a trainer will put an overweight, non-trained individual on a wobble board or stability ball and have them do light dumbbell exercises. The idea of this is that you stimulate the core...but are you really making a difference?

Real Life Function
In real life your body works as a system to accomplish tasks that we require. Most commonly in every day life we sit and stand (the squat). We pick things up and put them down (the deadlift). We push things away from us (the bench press). We lift things over our head (the barbell overhead press). And we also pull things (the barbell row). This is why nothing is more functional than barbell training. Barbell training adds a load to the basic movement we perform all the time. For instance sit on the toilet. You just did a squat. I am sure you can see how adding weight to this function will increase quality of life. Especially in the older population who find it tough to complete these simple tasks. Using the barbell also trains the body as it is meant to be trained...as a system. Isolation exercises are good to train just a single muscle but does not do much of anything to get stronger. Isolation exercises are made popular by bodybuilders who have developed massive physiques through weight training. These leak into regular folks training and often over take basic barbell training which ultimately develops muscular strength and size the best. The reason is usually A) its easier B) people associate a "pump" or "burn" to be a good workout or C) They are not comfortable with barbell movements.

So What About Stability Training?
This training can be a good supplemental or finishing exercise to someone who performs a sport or activity that needs stability. This should not substitute basic barbell training. My best results in strength and size came from barbell training. When I trained like a pro bodybuilder I go too wrapped up into feeling a pump and training each muscle and forgot to get strong. Strength develops the muscle along with other factors. But if you do not increase strength you will not build muscle for very long.

Trainers
Remember a trainer should not be judged by the bull shit they say to you but their expertise in exercise science. You would think a certification or degree would make every trainer credible but it doesn't. Most of the fitness industry is driven by wanting to be different and selling you something. It does not mean it is right. Our anatomy functions as a system and genetics determine the insertions of muscles which gives each muscle its appearance. "Shaping" a muscle does not exist. You can either make it bigger or smaller. Do your self a favor and learn basic barbell lifts and improve your life. If you don't know how to do perform these lifts correctly I highly suggest you buy the book Starting Strength by Mark Rippetoe. It is the best book on fitness ever written in my opinion.

Kick some ass for a change!

Thanks for reading