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Reaching physical peak requires varied exercise

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@tampatrib.com

Published: April 11, 2009

Performing the same type of activity at the same level of intensity week after week gives your body nothing new to adapt to, slowing or stopping you from reaching your strength and endurance potential.
Functional training - performing exercises that better equip us to handle everyday activities and tasks - is a great way to take your workouts to the next level. It calls for the body to move on different planes, angles and at different speeds, enhancing overall strength, stamina, balance and power.

Leg squats, for example, make lifting a heavy object or bending down to pick something up easier and less likely to cause injury because it more closely mimics real-life activity. Strengthening these muscles using a leg press machine, on the other hand, does little to teach proper lifting form.

For greatest benefit, include exercises that target your core, the muscles of the trunk and pelvis which support the spinal column.

If exercises are performed correctly and with consistency, better posture, improved balance and increased joint stability can result, significantly decreasing risk of injury.

Dayton Daily News

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