Functional Training: more effective on a cushioning floor

Who doesn't want more power and energy, a desirable body and robust health? The current trend for functional training helps everyone to achieve these aims.

This is intensive, varied and highly effective training for the whole body. The exercises include working with the own body weight or with special equipment such as kettle bells, sandbags or similar. It shapes the body and strengthens the muscles: ideal prerequisites so that one of these days we can say: "Backache? − that's just hearsay to me."

The workout procedures are performed standing, sitting and lying down, including many jumps and other dynamic movements. The cushioning properties of the floor covering are therefore highly significant.

Injuries can be prevented

This applies particularly to beginners or those returning to sporting activity, whose muscles are not so well developed yet, and also to those who are overweight. Their muscles are not yet capable of coping with what functional training refers to as passive peak forces. Only a good surface can provide ideal compensation for the load thus exerted on the body - and prevent injuries from occurring in the first place.

Ideally, this kind of floor consists of a permanently elastic material whose cushioning properties makes it capable of reducing the load on the joints, in all kinds of training situations. Furthermore, well cushioned flooring is also good for the bones and joints when exercising in a supine position or when lying on the side. Who wants to have their hips or shoulders resting on a floor that's as hard as a plank?

Many functional training exercises entail having the hands and lower arms in contact with the floor. Good cushioning properties then protect the delicate parts of the shoulder girdle together with the cervical and thoracic spine. Studies have shown that training on an elastic cushioning floor is far more effective.

• Basically the load on the joints must be reduced, while also providing comfortable support for the knees, hip joints, elbows or hands.
• The floor's elastic properties must be warranted in the long term in view of the high loads acting on the floor from the body weight and the training equipment.
• The cushioning properties must be sufficient for doing away with additional training mats.
• Different rooms require variable possible uses. The floor coverings should therefore offer a flexible concept for individual use that can be adjusted to the particular conditions.
• Slanting edges reduce any stumbling risks and make it easier to transport and position training equipment on the floor surface.
• A hygienic, non-slip surface is just as important as the floor's optimum cushioning properties.

Minimum requirements

• Fulfils safety criteria
• Reduces strain on the joints
• Is permanently elastic
• Needs no additional training mats
• Can be adapted to the individual room
• Has a sloping edge
• Has a robust, non-slip surface that is easy to clean
• Insulates from heat and cold
• Can be fitted to the surface without gluing
• Is impermeable to perspiration
• Can be used with other training equipmentn

Also appropriate

• The floor covering should be offered in a range of colours with visually contrasting marking or wording

• Functional flooring

Manufacturer

FLEXI-SPORTS GmbH
Levelingstr. 18
81673 München
GERMANY
Phone +49 89/45 02 87 0
Fax +49 89/45 02 87 27
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www.flexi-sports.com