Functional fitness and Lifetime fitness
I want everyone to think what their physical limits are. Not just in the box with a bar or a weight but, rather, during your daily life. How much time do you spend sitting? Standing? Are you carrying kids or trying to carry every bag of groceries from the car because, God knows, you don’t want to make another trip? We all have had varying backgrounds, activity levels, injuries that effect are abilities to perform daily tasks. Since most, if not all, reading this have been getting their fitness in with crossfit, you know what it all entails. But what I want to get into is why some of the things we do are important today and in the future
Let’s focus on squats. Front squats, back squats, overhead squats, goblet squats, air squats, squat cleans, squat snatch, wall balls, squat gumbo, fried squats (Poor Forest Gump joke). If there’s one thing I wish the general populous would understand is how important it is to squat well. It’s important for what we do in the box because it works a lot of big muscles which is great for power and weight loss but being able to get into and out of the squat position has a lot of importance throughout life. Getting in and out of chairs. Picking up objects without injury. And, most importantly, getting on and off the toilet. Maybe not difficult for most of you now now but that’s how I spend a lot of my day in home health. If I can teach someone to get out of their chair or off the toilet without someone assisting them, then you can let people stay at home a lot longer and keep a little dignity.
Just be mindful of how you move throughout the day. Are you approaching your daily tasks with the same mindset and focus on form as you pick up your toddler or Christmas present as you are with a kettlebell or bar?
The other thing thing I want to touch on is mobility. Three specific sites. Hips, ankles, and shoulders. If you are having trouble getting to 90 degrees with any squat it’s likely lack of hip flexion and/or ankle dorsiflexion. Shoulders are pretty easy to know if you’re lacking during any overhead motion, especially those of you who struggle with overhead squats. Also, pain in the lower extremities with running could be a lack of mobility in one or more joints
It’s been awesome to see the community that has surrounded this box and I’d like to continue to see it grow. If you’re having any pain or limitations seek out one of the several clinicians that are around. In general, we’d be glad to help you work through any weakness or lack of mobility or point you in the right direction on where to go. We don’t want to see people struggle with injury or inability to perform certain movements from something that can be fixed with some extra mobility.
Finally, I want to touch on the importance of lifetime fitness. I work currently with an older population in general and you’d be amazed at the things some people can do at a very advanced age simply because they kept an active lifestyle throughout all stages of life. I recently had a 100 year old lady who walked 5 miles every morning since she was 60. I’ve also had an 91 year old farmer who hurt his shoulder hanging a gate by himself. He has completed 7 iron man challenges. His first one was when he was 65. I’ve also had 40 year old who got winded walking to the kitchen. We are all going to have have challenges but in general Newton’s 1st law applies: an object at rest will stay at rest and an object in motion will stay in motion. It’s been an awesome year and I hope everyone the best. Stay in motion. Excuses or results. And to quote Mark Rippetoe “strong people are harder to kill than weak people and more useful in general.”
Sorry for the long read
-Nate
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