What is Functional Movement?
“Physical fitness is the first requisite of happiness. In order to achieve happiness, it is imperative to gain mastery of your body. If at the age of 30 you are stiff and out of shape, you are old. If at 60 you are supple and strong then you are young.” – Joseph Hubert Pilates
Functional movement are movements based on real-world situational biomechanics. They usually involve multi-planar, multi-joint movements which place demand on the body’s core musculature and innervation. (further info)
Functional Movement Training
Functional training has its origins in Rehabilitation. Physiotherapists often use this approach to retrain patients with movement disorders. Interventions are designed to incorporate task and context specific practice in areas meaningful to each patient. The overall goal is functional independence. For example, exercises that mimic what patients did at home or work may be included in treatment in order to help them return to their lives or jobs after an injury or surgery.
Functional Movement and work
If a patient’s job required repeatedly heavy lifting, rehabilitation would be targeted towards heavy lifting, if the patient were a parent of young children, it would be targeted towards moderate lifting and endurance, and if the patient were a marathon runner, training would be targeted towards re-building endurance. However, treatments are designed after careful consideration of the patient’s condition, what he or she would like to achieve, and ensuring goals of treatment are realistic and achievable.
Functional training attempts to adapt or develop exercises which allow individuals to perform the activities of daily life more easily and without injuries.
What can you do?
No matter what you do or maybe what you may not do, I believe that in this day and age we should be supplementing our general lives or sports with a movement based activity. Find yourself a coach and figure out what best suits you. Ideally you want to be taught a method that helps you move more efficiently, improve body awareness, strengthen your muscles and Yoga, Pilates, Tai Chi, Body Balance, gymnastics, “functional movement” or you may have popped onto the latest Ido Portal course.
What is the best method for me?
There any so many methods out there, all having their pros and cons, and I know a lot of colleagues will swear by their own method. Each method suits different individuals, but all try to promote a similar objective: efficient, pain free movement, which will ultimately work of as a preventative measure against injury.
How we can help?
We have treated many patients each with their own specific needs. We would be happy to work with you. Firstly we will complete a full comprehensive diagnosis or your condition and lifestyle and then tailor a treatment for that.
Please do not hesitate to give us a call or book an appointment