From Follows Function

by Chuck Wolf

From the pioneer days of fitness and sport performance, weight rooms, health clubs, and gymnasiums have been the sight of wondrous feats. As the fitness and sports enhancement industry has ventured ever closer in alliance with the rehabilitation sector, more people make the commitment to performance enhancement.

Performance enhancement becomes relative terminology to the performing individual. Whether an elite or developmental athlete, weekend warrior, recreational sports enthusiast, dancer, rehabilitating patient, or housewife, all must perform with enhanced capabilities to meet daily challenges of life. With our desires to excel, millions of people seek health clubs, corporate and community fitness centers, rehabilitation centers, strength and conditioning specialists, and personal trainers. Each goal is individual, yet possesses a similar theme – peak performance. At each of these facilities, marvelous work is accomplished to assist the performer to meet those goals. Volumes of research verify new techniques, equipment, and protocols to benefit greater outcomes. But through these endeavors, we invariably forget one important component: incorporating true function into our processes.

Traditional Methods of Training

Isolated Movements

The kinetic chain is characterized as the deceleration at one joint and the acceleration at the next joint in the chain. Too many exercises are isolated and not integrated into the kinetic chain. For example, a leg extension exercise isolates the knee joint and breaks the kinetic chain. The isolation of the knee joint from the subtalar, ankle, and hip joints reduces functional movement. Additionally, joint isolation increases torque and injury vulnerability to that joint. The chain is only as strong as its weakest link, and there are moments when joint isolation is required. I am not advocating elimination of joint isolation movements; rather, include integrated movements that require full kinetic chain recruitment and synchronization resulting in eventual improved function.

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