The fitness industry is one that is wrought with catchy terms that sound scientific—most of which really get under my skin. These always sound great, and may have some rooting in science, but they are purely for marketing or are simply misunderstood. Today, I want to write about one of my favorites—“functional”. If you follow fitness, you will likely have heard everything from “functional motion” to “functional power”—as if adding “functional” to a word makes it better. (Of course, adding “functional” if front of something like a “car” makes sense. In front of anything fitness related, however, it is—in my humble—it is just redundant.)
Merriam-Webster1 defines functional as “of, connected with, or being a function… affecting physiological or psychological functions but not organic structure… used to contribute to the development or maintenance of a larger whole… designed or developed chiefly from the point of view of use…performing or able to perform a function”. The Mayo Clinic2 defines functional fitness training as exercises that “train your muscles to work together and prepare them for daily tasks by simulating common exercises you might do at home, at work or in sports”. Organizations, like the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM), might be a bit more appropriate when they connect functional training to neuromotor training (or motor skill-related physical fitness—e.g., speed, power, agility, balance, coordination, and reaction time), but it is still just dressing up fitness to, perhaps, broaden its appeal. While it is possible to engage in exercise training solely for the purpose of improving one’s appearance, there is nevertheless an inherent component of improving activities of daily living in most any balanced fitness program.
There are far greater battles to be fought in the fitness industry than the use and misuse of “functional”. It is, however, one that can be used to mislead the customer. It can also lead to an over-emphasis on exercises that serve to correct problems that don’t exist.
It is important to focus on the principles of specificity and overload. When we emphasize a balanced approach to physical fitness—i.e., include both health-related and motor skill-related components—the inevitable end-product is better overall function. Fitness is only dysfunctional when it limits or excludes the necessary components of fitness. Fitness is by definition “functional”.
Be your best today; be better tomorrow.
Carpe momento!
1https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/functional
2https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/fitness/in-depth/functional-fitness/art-20047680