OS Functional Training

Author: Matthias Keller, OS Institute

The term “Functional Training” is becoming more and more a buzzword in the sports and fitness scene. Numerous groups and disciplines have integrated Functional Training over the past years, and added it to their concepts. As a result, many exercises, progressions, and variations have been created. New equipment has been developed, and ideas have been enhanced. This trend, however, makes it difficult to find a unified definition of what Functional Training really is.

Oliver Schmidtlein and Matthias Keller try to describe their view of what Functional Training entails.

What is OS Functional Training?
The aim is to train movements, not individual muscles. Functional Training is multidimensional and target-oriented. More often than not, several body parts are involved in a single exercise. Functional Training combines various coordinative aspects, and integrates complex functions and sequences of the musculoskeletal system. Stability is mostly created by the user rather than a training device.

What OS Functional Training is not.
It is not a dogmatic concept with all-round solutions. The exercises must be adapted to the user in terms of their level of difficulty. Many see the use of balance boards and various other unstable items of equipment as this extended type of training. We, however, consider that only a small aspect of the whole concept, and not as a meaningful addition for basic training. Equipment for the training of movements on fixed levers and fixed axes are not typical of Functional Training. Functional Training is not a substitute for maximised power training or bodybuilding – but it dos represent an ideal addition.

What are the benefits of Functional Training?
This type of training is highly effective and efficient, as it is geared towards an individual target function of the user. Each exercise incorporates several aspects. Once an advanced state of fitness is reached, the user can forego the breaks between exercises altogether, which creates additional training stimulus within a shorter time.

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