THE TJF NEWSLETTER - DECEMBER 2007 Edition 10

Dear all,

Hopefully you will all be resisting the mince pies and mulled wine for the time being...
In our quest to help you understand the definition of “functional training", this article follows on from last month's introduction to the Litmus Tests of function.

INTRODUCTON The litmus tests are what a true function coach will use to help them “step back” and constantly assess what is going on in order to help them accurately create an exercise programme that facilitates the coach/patients desired function - whether it be improved performance in a certain sport (such as golf or tennis), rehabilitate an injury that is inhibiting them in some way, or even lose weight.
Therefore it is important that an exercise should not be termed functional unless it passes all of these litmus tests.

LOADING TO EXPLODE The second litmus test we are going to discuss is the knowledge that the body "pronates" or is loaded into a coiled position, before it can unload or "supinate". In layman's terms this can be understood by the following analogy - if I were to ask you to jump as high as you could to try and touch the ceiling, just before you jumped up you would have actually dropped down. This is your body loading itself into a pronated position, in order for it to explode or "supinate" - in this case so you can jump up and touch the ceiling.
In life we must produce movements in order to walk, run, jump, lift, etc. Therefore we must first load our body in order for these movements to take place. This is another important cog in the understanding of the chain reaction of the human body.

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CONTACT TJF If you are interested in looking better, feeling better and performing better, then contact us today for your free consultation.
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