Function before Fitness

Pausing training like this to address functional issues with a dysfunctional knee and hip will prevent injury and lead to longer term gains in fitness.

It sure seems that we have two all or nothing extremes when it comes to fitness.

Extremes on the low end tend to have almost no extra movement in the day other than what is absolutely necessary to perform daily tasks. Science repeatedly confirms that this is not healthy and this group would benefit exponentially from moving more.

Extremes on the high end tend to involve an obsession with achieving the endorphin rush brought forth from an intense bout of fitness even at the detriment of compensating around a problem and ignoring or trying to push through certain levels of pain. While these types of individuals are put up on a pedestal as icons for our society to strive to imitate (especially on social media) these guys are creating bigger problems by continuing to pursue fitness activities through the pain.

When we see new clients for a functional movement screen or old clients for a re-screen, we’re checking for points of dysfunction or altered movement which have a high likelihood of leading to future pain or injury. If the altered movement or dysfunction is ignored in pursuit of fitness, then the ultimate goal of improved health is jeopardized.

If we take some time initially or even at certain times when problems arise to address function and restore it to a safe level, then the return to fitness based activities can happen because our clients through the experience have gained a better understanding of the pattern and in tern will have a better connection to their body awareness.

A focus on function before fitness may push pause temporarily but will lead to more significant gains over the long term.