FUNCTIONAL EXERCISE PART ONE……………………. BIOMOTOR ABILITIES

November 17th, 2008 Posted in Getting started

 

I am sure many of you out there have used trainers and have undertaken gym programs, which claim to provide or prescribe “functional exercise.” But do these programs actually living up to the meaning of the term “functional” with regard to exercise prescription, or are they riding yet another fad? Below are the guidelines that should be used to prescribe “functional exercise”. To determine if an exercise is truly functional, compare it to the following table; in most cases it must meet all six characteristics to be considered functional.

 Characteristics of Functional Exercise

 

1.            Comparable reflex profile (Righting and Equilibrium reflexes)

2.            Maintenance of your centre of gravity over your own base of support

*            Static postural component

*            Dynamic postural component

3.            Generalized motor program compatibility

4.            Open/closed chain compatibility

5.            Relevant biomotor abilities

6.            Isolation to integration

 

Many novice surfers, as well as seasoned professionals, make the mistake of training more of what they are good at, forgetting that a chain always breaks at the weakest link! Always remember, the goal when training biomotor abilities is to strengthen weaknesses, not reinforce strengths!

 

Biomotor abilities consist of such qualities as….

            • Agility            • Endurance            • Balance            • Flexibility            • Coordination      

            • Power           •Strength

 

Understanding the concept of biomotor abilities is important when determining how functional an exercise is especially when it comes to surfing. To determine how functional any exercise is with regard to biomotor ability and biomotor ability development, simply ask yourself these questions.

 

1.         Does the exercise I am about to do improve the biomotor abilities I need to improve the

specific goals of my program and the needs of my body?

 

2.         Are my exercises too simple; do they under challenge my nervous system?

 

3.         Is the goal of the exercise neuromuscular-isolation or neuromuscular-integration? (Neuromuscular-isolation exercises are often best performed on machines or with the support of benches and props, such as preacher benches, while a neuromuscular-integration exercise is usually best performed at the most demanding level possible without disrupting the motor learning process.)

 

4.         Does this exercise have the optimal biomotor profile for developing my skill level and movement patterns? The tendency most exercises have is to go to either extreme: The exercises are either far too simplistic(machine) or far too complex (Pro-Fitter lateral slides catching a medicine ball).

 

Choosing the exercise that best addresses the biomotor requirements of your client’s environment and one that suits their motor skills development can only serve to speed the rate at which they achieve their conditioning or rehabilitation goals!

 

One simple method of ranking biomotor abilities is to estimate out of 10 how the world’s best performer in any sport or activity would perform in each biomotor category. For example, as a gymnast , you would determine that they would need a score of 10 for balance for a perfect performance. This is the gold standard against which you rate the biomotor ability for balance.

 

Balance	Council Workers	Gymnast	Surfer
	4	10	?