Functional movements are optimal for developing human bodies to their highest potential. By virtue of recruiting as much muscle as possible, these movements uniquely equip a person to perform more work in less time. Calorie burn is a measure of work, so it can be said that functional movements burn calories at a faster rate than non-functional movements.
Read MoreMake Every Calorie Count: Functional Movements@Tyler, awesome article, thanks.
@Jeremy, I think I know what you are saying, or at least partly. I find my left arm for example is much weaker than right and in bench press or push press my right does more of the work. Mixing in work with dumbbells occasionally as well as barbells helps keep the left arm honest. Its a question of doing both (barbells and dumbbells) rather than either/or.
Keep it up Bethany, this is awesome.
I've followed Beth on Instagram since she had said that she did CrossFit and had a 185kg deadlift when she appeared on SAS: Who Dares Wins. Very inspiring stuff.
Congrats Beth! It is amazing to see how CrossFit helped you finding your way. Keep it up! Cheers!
That seems a bit too black and white of a painting to me.
A few monostructural movements can be usefull to help connect our brain with some muscle groups.
I feel that after doing only compond movements for years I've developped some imablances due to the stronger muscles doing all the work and getting een stronger and the weak ones staying weak.
Anyone else obersving that sort of issues ?
No. Train it all.
Jeremy,
What type of imbalance are you seeing? Is it functional, like a right/left or quad/hamstring type of imbalance. Or is it aesthetic?
As a general rule, it's best to focus on functional movements. However, beginners should follow the rules, experts know when to break the rules and masters make their own rules.
I wouldn't slavishly follow any sort of rule if it's not giving you the results you want. In some cases, like gymnastics, you just can't stick with purely functional movements. The cross on rings is a single joint movement, but its development makes pullups and muscle-ups trivial. Rehab is another example, where going back to very simple movements might be required. Even then, the goal should be integration and eventually full function.
One non-CrossFit franchise in my neighborhood brags on its front door that its workouts will burn 450-700 calories. Not that you will get stronger or move better. You would never see this on the door of a physical therapist's office. If your intent for a simple movement is mobility or PT, calorie counting is pretty irrelevant, ex: "My back is still killing me, but at least I burned 300 calories."
Thats because you need to also do accessory for small muscles.
I was talking about quad/hamstrings type of imbalance. I've corrected the imbalance in my shoulder doing some external rotation rehab work, and I'm still struglling with low back pain and headaches (tight upper traps) due tu upper/lower cross syndrom.
Amazing!! Thank you for sharing your story Bethany!!
