Training without fitness equipment much more efficient

Functional Training: Body beats machine

09/04/2014

Fitness studios are in fashion, but for some time, in addition to modern devices, more and more classic training methods are in demand, in which one's own body is considered to be one of a kind „fitness device“ serves. Functional training is the name of the exercises for which more and more gyms are setting up special open spaces. Through training not only individual muscle groups are addressed, but it strengthens the body as a whole. In addition, the group training brings a special motivation with it.

Essentially, the body weight is used in functional training, but also ball dumbbells, ropes, medical or gymnastic balls can be used as an aid. The individual exercises are limited in time or are executed only in a certain number of repetitions. But in the context of a training session, numerous different exercises are used. In a one-hour functional training thus several muscle groups are addressed. This benefits the coordination, stamina, strength and overall movement. In particular, the training of the back muscles, abdominal muscles, hip muscles and shoulder blade muscles often plays an essential role in the exercises, as they are crucial for the stabilization of the body. Opposite the news agency „dpa“ said Dustin Tusch of the employers' association of German fitness and health care facilities (DSSV) that functional training is currently the biggest trend in the fitness industry.

Improved mobility and increased muscle strength
The gyms are responding to the trend by increasingly offering training sessions and creating extra open space for them. Originally Functional Training was used primarily in the context of rehabilitation and physiotherapy. Overall, the proper training, if performed properly, results in better mobility and stability of the joints as well as more efficient strength patterns. Professional sport has also made use of this effect in the past, as it can significantly reduce the potential for injury during sporting activities. Professor Christoph Eifler from the German University for Prevention and Health Management in Saarbrücken explained to the news agency „dpa“, that the functional training „the injury prophylaxis is used, thus reducing the risk of injury while improving performance.“

Functional training with less risk of injury
Studies comparing the effect of classical device training with that of functional training have shown that the latter leads to significantly greater muscle strength and a much better sense of balance and mobility. Even the former coach of the German national football team knew the benefits of this training method and had therefore applied it for the first time in a larger style in the professional footballers. Although training on equipment may seem safer at first glance, sports doctors believe that "restricting movement to a single level, which often has an unnatural shape, favors erroneous patterns of movement and therefore more likely to result in injury." , For example, Functional Training has now gained acceptance in many areas of "professional sports" over device training..

Functional training especially popular with women
According to industry experts, the popularity of functional training is also attributable to the growing proportion of female customers in the fitness studios. After all, women rarely have fun lifting weights and usually do not strive for pronounced bodybuilder musculature, but want to get in shape overall. Also, the training in the group is often particularly helpful. In addition, the exercises are individually adapted so that they are "well suited for beginners". Professor Christoph Eifler comes to the conclusion that „The Functional Training is clearly recognizable as a trend, not only in the studios, but overall in recreational sports.“ (Fp)