Functional Fitness for Everyday Life:
Preventing Injuries Before They Happen
Functional fitness means doing exercises that help you with everyday activities, like walking the dog, carrying groceries, or walking on a slippery sidewalk. Building strength and flexibility helps your body adjust and avoid injuries. You can do these exercises at home or in a gym. When starting out and as you get stronger, always focus on good form instead of making the exercise harder or adding more weight. If you want some easy ways to add functional fitness to your day, check out the tips below.
4 Areas of Physical Movement To Focus On Include:
1. Functional Movements: These exercises copy actions you do in everyday life. A good example is squats. You can do them using just your body weight and stand in front of a chair for safety. Start with 3 sets of 10 squats. You can make this part of your day by doing 10 squats every time you get up from your desk or chair before moving on to your next task.
2. Core Strength: Your core is the center of your body and helps you stay balanced and strong. A good exercise to build core strength is the plank. Start by resting on your elbows and either your knees or toes. This helps keep your lower back stable. Try to hold the plank for 30-60 seconds and repeat it 3 times.
3. Mobility and Flexibility: These help your body move better and feel less stiff. A simple stretch for your back is the cat/cow exercise. Move slowly and breathe as you go. Do 10 reps.
4. Balance: Helps you stay steady and avoid falls. A simple way to practice is to stand on one foot for 30 seconds. Stay near a counter or the back of a chair for support if you need it. You can even do this while brushing your teeth!
