Effect of Functional Resistance Training on Functional Movement Outcomes in Young Adults

Despite widespread use, questions remain regarding the effectiveness of functional training methods compared to traditional resistance training, especially regarding functional fitness and movement outcomes. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine whether functional training methods have similar effects on measures related to functional movement, flexibility, upper body endurance and core endurance in young adults as traditional resistance training methods. METHODS: 24 healthy volunteers, aged 19-24 yr, were randomly placed into a control group (traditional (n = 12)) and an experimental group (functional (n = 12)). The participants were tested prior to and after completing the 12-week training study. The performance testing battery included: flexibility, timed flexion and back extension endurance, timed right (RSB) and left side bridge (LSB) endurance, push-up, and the functional movement screen (FMS) test that consisted of 7 different exercises designed to evaluate functional fitness. A total score was calculated across the 7 exercises and reported for each subject. Paired and independent t-tests were used to evaluate within and between group differences. RESULTS: There were significant (p <.05) increases in push-ups within each group following training. Functional training also elicited significant (p <.05) increases in muscular flexibility (2.7±2.6 cm), RSB (18±12.6 sec) and LSB (20±15.8 sec) test time, back extension test time (15.2±24.8 sec), and total score on the FMS (2.2±1.3 pts) pre- to post-training. In addition, extension endurance time (27.1 vs -1.3%), RSB time (40 vs 10%), flexibility (8.7 vs.8%), and total FMS score (16.2 vs -1.1%) were significantly (p <.05) greater following training for the functional group versus the traditional group. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that functional training methods are more beneficial for increasing core endurance, flexibility and measures of functional movement. However, changes in upper body endurance performance were not program specific.