The Functional Fitness Pyramid

"Don't get stuck in the past - embrace the exciting new ways that fitness assessments are being revolutionized.”

Are you ready to take your fitness career journey to the next level? Are you tired of outdated fitness assessments that just don't cut it anymore?

Well, the fitness industry has finally taken a new turn, and it's time for you to join the revolution! Don't get stuck in the past - embrace the exciting new ways that fitness assessments are being revolutionized.

In the not-so-distant past, standard fitness testing was the go-to method for measuring clients' fitness levels. However, this approach had its drawbacks. Clients were put through a battery of tests, including wall sits, max plank holds, rep max tests, and cardiovascular assessments, during their initial appointments. While these tests provided a general idea of a client's fitness level, they often failed to uncover deeper issues that could hinder their progress.

The fitness industry then transitioned to the era of movement screens, where the emphasis was placed on assessing how well clients could move during exercises such as overhead squats and lunges. This marked a positive shift away from simply measuring how much a client could exert themselves and towards a focus on the quality of movement.  While this approach was definitely a step in the right direction, clients would still often encounter aches and pains that would limit their ability to achieve their goals.

Over time, people began to realize that there's more to the story than just movement screens. While things may look good on the surface, there can be underlying issues such as compensations and micro-shifting of joints that can lead to breakdowns, aches, pains, and even injuries.

Simply focusing on movement alone doesn't tell the whole story. It's essential to consider the body as a whole, including factors such as posture, breathing patterns, and muscle imbalances, to truly understand the root cause of any issues.

The functional fitness pyramid provides a framework for assessing clients in a structured and effective manner. Each type of assessment has its own time and place in the pyramid, ensuring that we prioritize the order of assessments for optimal results.

At the top of the pyramid is fitness testing. While this type of assessment is crucial for measuring overall fitness levels, it's essential to ensure that clients are moving and functioning well before pushing them to their maximal exertion. This means that the foundation of the pyramid, which is the functional assessment, must be addressed first.

The middle level of the pyramid is the movement screen. This type of assessment allows us to evaluate the quality of movement, form, and strategy before moving on to higher-intensity fitness testing. By addressing any underlying movement issues and compensations, we can reduce the risk of injury and improve overall performance.

The foundation of the pyramid, the functional assessment, involves evaluating a client's ability to activate the necessary muscles when challenged by stability demands, movement demands, or load. This type of assessment is crucial for identifying any underlying weaknesses or imbalances that could impact performance or lead to injury.

By following the functional fitness pyramid, we can ensure that each type of assessment is conducted in the proper order, leading to more effective and personalized training programs. So, whether you're a beginner or a seasoned pro, incorporating the functional fitness pyramid into your training strategy can ensure you help clients achieve breakthrough results faster and more effectively.

While a client may perform well in a movement screen, they may still be compensating for lack of function in a particular muscle or group of muscles. This can be compared to driving a car that is out of alignment.

The car may be able to complete a lap of the racetrack, but the machinery is breaking down under the surface. Similarly, in the human body, these compensations can lead to aches, pains, and injuries.

To avoid these breakdowns and achieve optimal performance, it's important to assess function first. By identifying any underlying weaknesses or imbalances, we can create personalized training plans that address these issues and improve overall function.

Are you ready to take your fitness career to the next level?

Join the revolution and embrace the power of functional fitness assessments. This cutting-edge method has unlocked breakthroughs for countless individuals, propelling them to new heights of success and fulfillment.

With a focus on function, we can overcome limitations that other approaches cannot. So let's seize the future of fitness and evolve our strategies today. With a functional assessment as our starting point, we can unlock new levels of strength, endurance, and overall performance. Together, let's build the careers and lives we've always dreamed of - one functional step at a time!