SELF MANAGEMENT: CLINICIAN SECTION Functional training for performance enhancement—Part 1: The basics

How can we make training as functional as possible so it will stabilize an athlete and enhance performance in their sports activities? Functional stability training is goal oriented. Floor or isotonic-machine based exercise may be used as stepping stones to isolate and ‘‘groove’’ stability patterns. However, as soon as possible ‘‘core’’ stability must be trained in sport-specific ways. The sooner in the program actual functional activities are trained the better. But, it is necessary at each step that the movement is in the patients functional range (FR). The FR is the range in which there is minimal mechanical sensitivity (MS) or abnormal motor control (AMC). Unless functional training occurs there is no guarantee that the individual will be stable during the challenges of elite sporting competition (Rutherford, 1988). Examples of functional training include squats, lunges, pushing, pulling, catching, carrying, etc. Stability patterns may be further challenged by the addition of unstable surfaces such as balance boards and gymnastic balls. This provides enhanced proprioceptive stimulation which facilitates motor learning. However, the addition of an unstable surface is not recommended unless the athlete maintains good motor control