Exploring The Difference Between Traditional And Functional Strength Training

If you want to get the most out of your workout, you can always just add more weight. But does this extra weight actually make you stronger?

Exercise is an activity that can help us stay in shape and helps maintain our overall health and wellness. Doctors recommend that we do at least 30 minutes of exercise a day to stay healthy.

Working out has become a regular part of our daily routine, as we have had to adjust to doing our exercises at home, while our surroundings have changed, so has the way we exercise. Doing exercises at home, do we know what kinds of strength exercise regimens to follow? What are the different types of strength exercises?

Traditional Strength Training

Traditional strength training targets a particular muscle group exercise. This means you are doing at least 30 sets of 12 repetitions of each exercise; these are exercises like bicep curls or rows.

When you do traditional strength to bulk up your muscles, you use a lot of weight to challenge that muscle to build it. When your buildings that muscle and making your muscle bigger, you're also making it shorter, so you're working on contracting the muscle more than lengthening it.

Functional Strength Training

Functional strength training improves your health and ability to perform everyday functions hence the name. Daily activities such as carrying grocery bags walking up and down the stairs can become more manageable and be done more comfortably without experiencing any aches and pains. This type of training targets a group of muscles instead of focusing on just one muscle, focusing on endurance, core stability, and balance in addition to strength.

Why Choose Functional Strength Training?

Functional strength training tests your ability to perform exercises that target more than one muscle group. These include exercises like a bicep curl, which on its own is just a regular strength training exercise, but incorporating a reverse lunge into the mix targets your core as well as your leg muscles.

In a single functional strength training session, you can target muscles around the body in less time than it would take if you followed a traditional strength training session. These exercises utilize equipment like dumbbells, kettlebells, exercise bands, medicine balls, and body weight.

Tips For Functional Strength Training

You can incorporate functional training into your workout two to three times a week for about 30 minutes a session. Start with a warm-up and use lighter weights; pay special attention to your back and shoulders to avoid injury. For the best outcome, incorporate upper and lower body movement while standing. End your workout with a cool down and drink plenty of fluids.

Both traditional and functional strength training build your muscles, improve your mood, and help overall health! So whichever strength exercises you choose to do, they all benefit your health; make sure you practice doing them safely and don’t injure yourself!