Youth Strength and Conditioning Workouts! -

Weekly Workouts in Parker All Summer Long!

FUNCTIONAL FITNESS - CREATED TO FUNCTION

What is Functional Fitness?

Functional fitness is not a new concept in the exercise world but was hidden from the general public for some time with the popularity of using machines for body building back in the 70’s, 80’s, and 90’s. But machines don’t teach a person how to move properly in everyday life. If you look back in history to how athletes and soldiers trained through the centuries, it looks a lot like what we will be doing this summer! Functional fitness is now the predominant form of training for elite athletes as well. 

The term functional implies that the movements are patterns that we need to complete a task. Fitness is the ​​state of being physically strong or capable. As a Physical Therapist, I am most interested in a person’s ability to move properly and effectively for how their body is created. Everyone has slightly different body mechanics and structure, but the movement patterns should be pretty similar for most tasks. 

This summer we will be learning the key functional movements: 

• Squat - goblet, back, single arm, thruster, overhead squats, single leg squats, box jumps

• Hinge - single leg, deadlift, kettlebell swings, devil’s press, snatches

• Lunge - forward, backward, suitcase carry, overhead lunges

• Push - pushups, single arm press, push press 

• Pull - rows, rope pull, bent over rows

• Plank - modified, hand/forearm, elevated, side plank

• Carry - farmer’s, single arm, front rack, overhead

• Running - proper running and sprinting mechanics, track etiquette, hill sprints

Imagine you are a farmer and need to pick up a large rock, place it in a wheel barrow, and take it to your truck where you need to transport it onto the top shelf? You might squat to lift the rock onto your knee, carry the rock across your chest, push the wheelbarrow to the truck, and hinge and press the rock into the truck. These are all movements that your body will perform to function and complete a task. That is essentially how we will be training. 

Each week we will highlight one of these movements and also learn the muscle groups that are most involved in the movements. We will use equipment and different workout strategies to instill lasting movement patterns.

My goal with these weekly group workouts is to teach proper movement that translates to physical stresses outside of sports and competition. Hopefully the individuals will be equipped with the knowledge and muscle memory to stay healthy no matter where their hobbies or adventures take them all through their lives.

It's not too late to sign up for the summer workout which start June 2nd for the Tuesday sessions and June 5th for the Friday sessions. Email or text the contacts below if you have any questions and would like to sign up!

~ Dr. Meredith Bremner, PT, DPT

drmeredith@fitcoloradopt.com

(303) 801-8684