14/06/2022
What is Functional Training?
The term “functional Training” has been growing in popularity, however what exactly it constitutes is highly misunderstood.
At FPL, we see functional training as the following: Training that enhances the primary movement functions of a specific organism.
Different organisms have primary movement patterns. Dogs run on 4 legs, Kangaroos hop on 2 legs, birds fly. What are the primary movement functions for human beings?
Well, as anthropology findings suggest, Standing on 2 legs, walking, running and throwing are the driving functions behind our evolutionary adaptations.
Are there other functions that we're supposed to be able to do? Of course there are: we need to be able to bend down, hinge, squat, push, pull, etc, but standing, walking, running and throwing are clearly what define us and what our bodies are built around.
Functional training for human beings must therefore enhance these 4 functions.
Here is where most people get it wrong. Check out and you will see how any exercise that looks good on camera is considered “functional”. However, if the exercise is not based on our 4 primary functions, can it really be considered functional?
As soon as you stray from your primary movement patterns, you see a decline in health and function. If you feel muscular stiffness or joint pain after you train, you are probably ignoring this principle.
