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Last updated: December 10, 2025 8 min read  To excel physically, you’ve got to train functionally. Incorporating functional training into your fitness routine can help you build strength that transfers into performance. Here’s what you need to know. Functional training is a style of training that mirrors the movement patterns common in day-to-day life. When you carry heavy groceries from the car to the house, or squat down to pick up your toddler, strength is required. In a functional training workout, you’ll practice movement patterns that help you to perform better in and out of the gym. The idea is that when you do these movements in your daily life, you’re better equipped to do them thanks to your workout. Functional training first started as a form of physical therapy to rehabilitate injured athletes, and it then gained popularity as an effective [cross-training method](https://www.nike.com/w/cross-training-shoes-705gizy7ok). Nowadays, functional fitness is the touchstone for the military and athletes alike. The U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command [recognized the need](https://academic.oup.com/milmed/article/181/11-12/e1508/4158549) for functional training to prepare soldiers for the types of tasks that would be expected in combat. Their training sessions include pushing, pulling, lunging, changing direction, jumping, and more. This is the foundation of a functional training fitness workout. ## What is Functional Fitness Training? Functional fitness training involves multi-joint and multi-muscle exercises that mimic day-to-day movement patterns. These movement patterns are ingrained in our DNA. Our bodies are designed to move in these ways. For example, hinging at the hip, crawling on the ground, jumping, pushing overhead, abdominal rotation, and moving weight. These movements have allowed humans to evolve and are what makes us human. These types of movements can be compared to standard weight training. Typically, a weight training workout comprises compound and isolation exercises. Compound exercises are multi-joint exercises that recruit multiple muscles simultaneously. These types of exercises are common in functional training. However, isolation exercises that isolate one joint and/or muscle are not used. Functional training avoids isolation exercises because they are not natural movement patterns. For example, a bicep curl is an isolation exercise. The elbow flexes to reduce the angle of the joint, activating and isolating the bicep brachii muscle. If you think about the type of movements you perform in your daily life, isolating one joint or muscle isn’t common. What’s more common is using multiple muscles and multiple planes of motion to accomplish a movement. For example, say you’re reaching up high to put groceries away — what functional movements are you doing? - Squatting down to get the groceries - Flexing your calves to go on your toes - Moving weight overhead, requiring shoulder strength and abdominal stability - Activating multiple muscles in your upper body A functional training workout may help support this daily activity by performing: - Squats - Standing double calf raises - Kettlebell farmer’s walks - Free weight overhead carry Using multiple muscles in each exercise across different planes of motion can help you perform better in your daily life. You are strengthening the muscles and movement patterns that you need on a daily basis. 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Functional Training Enhances Athletic Performance__ Incorporating functional exercises into an athlete’s workout routine can help them perform better than ever. Gaining total body strength, stability, and enhancing movement quality correlates to better athletic performance. This is why functional exercises are so common in sport-specific training. For instance, box jumps might improve your sprint speed if you play football, and medicine ball chest throws might help you power your punch if you’re a boxer. These functional movements target specific motor patterns relevant to your chosen sport, to build strength, power, and mobility that transfers beyond the gym. __2. Functional Training Prevents and Rehabilitates Injuries__ Functional training helps to [prevent and rehabilitate injuries](https://bjsm.bmj.com/content/41/10/627.short). Imbalances and asymmetries in common movements cause weaknesses prone to injury. By strengthening functional movement patterns that use multiple muscle groups at the same time, you teach your body to work in harmony. This helps to balance out weaknesses or natural imbalances, for injury prevention. __3. Functional Training Is Low Impact__ Functional fitness is low impact, often involving bodyweight-only exercises. This makes it a great option for injury rehabilitation, beginners, [pregnant women](https://www.nike.com/a/yoga-for-pregnant-women), or older adults. Low impact functional exercises include - Goblet squat - Farmer’s walk - Single-leg bridge - Push-up - Lunge These exercises, amongst many others, don’t cause stress to your joints and can be easily adjusted for your current capability or fitness level. A functional workout routine often involves bodyweight, dumbbells or kettlebells, making it ideal for at-home workouts. __4. Functional Training Provides Better Mobility and Coordination__ Having good mobility means you’re able to perform movement patterns without restrictions. You have a wide range of motion and the neuromuscular control and strength to achieve the movement. In functional training, your body practices working together. This enhances body awareness and coordination, resulting in better overall mobility. __5. Functional Training Keeps Things Interesting__ If you’re bored of bicep curls followed by sit-ups, bench press, squats, and [barbell deadlifts](https://www.nike.com/a/deadlift-benefits-and-tips), you might be interested in functional training. Moving weight around in the gym for a given number of sets and repetitions can get very … repetitive. Why not try something different? Here are some examples of unique functional exercises: - Bear crawls - Wall handstand push-up - Rope climb - Crab reach - Sled pull/push __6. Functional Training Enhances Power and Strength__ Any activity you perform in or out of the gym is made easier with stronger muscles. Strong muscles are powerful — the product of strength and speed. Practicing these explosive exercises builds functional strength and improves force production: - Box jumps - Lateral step-ups - Paused squat jumps - Heavy medicine ball throws - Body-weight vertical jumps __7. Functional Training Burns Fat__ Functional workouts can be very high intensity. Exercises like those listed above recruit high-threshold muscle fibers in multiple large muscles. This has the biggest impact on your metabolic rate. You may be wondering how many calories are burned in functional training — and the answer is: a lot! The more muscles that are activated during a workout, the more energy is expended. The contraction of larger muscles eats up more oxygen and energy, leading to greater calorie burn. ## Why Is Functional Training Important? Our bodies are designed to move rather than being sedentary. But in modern times, many of us drive to work, watch TV, and sit for long periods in front of a computer. Often, we only move during our workouts. As a result, our bodies become stiff and prone to injury. Functional training helps to loosen up muscles and tendons to help you become more mobile and active, reversing the effects of your a sedentary lifestyle. Incorporating functional exercises helps to remind your body what it was meant to do: move! And not by unnaturally flexing isolated joints, but by practicing movement patterns ingrained in our human DNA. Instead of becoming sedentary, tight, and uncoordinated, functional training helps you feel strong and fit. Functional fitness is a key indicator of your overall health and wellbeing. 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[Explore NTC](https://www.nike.com/ntc-app) Originally published: December 10, 2025 ## Related Stories -  [](https://www.nike.com/a/cardio-vs-strength-training) # Activity # Cardio vs. Strength Training: Which Is Better and How Can You Combine Them? -  [](https://www.nike.com/a/at-home-yoga-for-beginners) # Activity # How To Start a Yoga Practice at Home | Beginner’s Guide by Nike -  [](https://www.nike.com/a/yoga-warmup-poses-for-circulation) # Activity # Easy Yoga Warm-Up Poses To Improve Blood Circulation -  [](https://www.nike.com/a/what-muscles-do-planks-work) # Sports & Activity # All the Muscles That Fire Up In a Plank -  [](https://www.nike.com/a/cardio-workout-at-home) # Sports & Activity # 10 Easy At-home Cardio Exercises, No Equipment Required Resources [Gift Cards](https://www.nike.com/gift-cards) [Corporate Sales](https://www.nike.com/corporate-sales) [Find a Store](https://www.nike.com/retail) [Membership](https://www.nike.com/membership) [Nike Journal](https://www.nike.com/stories) [Site Feedback](https://www.nike.com#site-feedback) Help [Get Help](https://www.nike.com/help) [Order Status](https://www.nike.com/orders/details/) [Shipping and Delivery](https://www.nike.com/help/a/shipping-delivery) [Returns](https://www.nike.com/help/a/returns-policy) [Order Cancellation](https://www.nike.com/help/a/change-cancel-order) [Payment Options](https://www.nike.com/help/a/payment-options) [Gift Card Balance](https://www.nike.com/orders/gift-card-lookup) [Contact Us](https://www.nike.com/help/#contact) Company [About Nike](https://about.nike.com/en) [News](http://news.nike.com/) [Careers](https://jobs.nike.com/) [Investors](http://investors.nike.com/) [Purpose](https://purpose.nike.com/) [Sustainability](https://www.nike.com/sustainability) [Accessibility](https://www.nike.com/us/en/accessibility/#introduction) Promotions & Discounts [Student](https://www.nike.com/help/a/student-discount) [Military](https://www.nike.com/help/a/military-discount) [Teacher](https://www.nike.com/help/a/teacher-discount) [First Responders & Medical Professionals](https://www.nike.com/help/a/first-responder-discount) [Birthday](https://www.nike.com/help/a/birthday-terms-promo) [Resources](https://www.nike.com/help) [Gift Cards](https://www.nike.com/gift-cards) [Corporate Sales](https://www.nike.com/corporate-sales) [Find a Store](https://www.nike.com/retail) [Membership](https://www.nike.com/membership) [Nike Journal](https://www.nike.com/stories) [Site Feedback](https://www.nike.com#site-feedback) [Help](https://www.nike.com/help) [Get Help](https://www.nike.com/help) [Order Status](https://www.nike.com/orders/details/) [Shipping and Delivery](https://www.nike.com/help/a/shipping-delivery) [Returns](https://www.nike.com/help/a/returns-policy) [Order Cancellation](https://www.nike.com/help/a/change-cancel-order) [Payment Options](https://www.nike.com/help/a/payment-options) [Gift Card Balance](https://www.nike.com/orders/gift-card-lookup) [Contact Us](https://www.nike.com/help/#contact) [Company](https://about.nike.com/en) [About Nike](https://about.nike.com/en) [News](http://news.nike.com/) [Careers](https://jobs.nike.com/) [Investors](http://investors.nike.com/) [Purpose](https://purpose.nike.com/) [Sustainability](https://www.nike.com/sustainability) [Accessibility](https://www.nike.com/us/en/accessibility/#introduction) [Promotions & Discounts](https://www.nike.com/promo-code) [Student](https://www.nike.com/help/a/student-discount) [Military](https://www.nike.com/help/a/military-discount) [Teacher](https://www.nike.com/help/a/teacher-discount) [First Responders & Medical Professionals](https://www.nike.com/help/a/first-responder-discount) [Birthday](https://www.nike.com/help/a/birthday-terms-promo) United States - © 2026 Nike, Inc. 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