Functional training is a comprehensive, individually tailored way of exercising that aims to improve the abilities you need in everyday life, in sport or when returning to movement. It isn’t one specific type of exercise. We choose the training based on what a particular person needs to handle better, whether that’s strength, stability, coordination, fitness or overall movement performance.
Functional training can combine strength exercises, stability and coordination exercises, and developing balance, speed or fitness. What matters isn’t how complicated an exercise is, but its purpose and how it transfers to the client’s goal. For one person, a functional goal might be climbing stairs without trouble or lifting a child off the floor; for another, it might be improving performance in running, tennis or another sport.
Functional training for health and everyday life
Regular, well-designed training helps develop strength, mobility, stability, balance and overall physical fitness. This can make everyday activities easier and help maintain independence and movement abilities as you get older.
Research shows that functionally oriented exercise can improve physical function, mobility, balance and the ability to carry out normal daily activities, and it may be especially important for older people.
Functional training for athletes
For athletes, functional training is based primarily on the demands of their specific sport. Training can therefore focus on developing strength, power, speed, coordination or other abilities the athlete needs.
There is no single universal “functional exercise” that suits everyone. What makes training functional is above all its specificity, correct dosing, gradual progression and adaptation to the individual needs of the person.
Functional training at Cvičisko
At Cvičisko, we take an individual approach to functional training. Our personal trainers will help you set up training based on your current fitness, movement abilities and goals. Whether you want to be stronger and fitter, handle everyday movement better, get back to regular exercise or improve your athletic performance, we’ll set up the training so it has a clear purpose for you. We’re not about complicated exercises. We’re about helping your body handle what you need it to do.
Prefer a group or training with a friend? Try group functional training or functional training for two. You can find out more about what functional training really means in our Know-how article.
