Effect of Functional Resistance Training on Muscular Fitness Outcomes in Young Adults

As functional resistance training becomes a more popular method to improve muscular fitness, questions remain regarding the effectiveness of functional training compared to traditional resistance training. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine whether functional training has similar effects as traditional resistance training on muscular strength and endurance, flexibility, agility, balance, and anthropometric measures in young adults. In this study, 38 healthy volunteers, aged 18-32 years, were randomly placed into a control group [traditional (n = 19)] and an experimental group [functional (n = 19)]. The participants were tested prior to and after completing the 7-week training study. The testing battery included: weight, girth measurements, flexibility, agility, lower back flexion and extension endurance, push-up test, sit-up test, one-leg balance, one-repetition maximum (1-RM) bench press and squat. Results indicated significant (p < 0.05) increases in push-ups, back extension endurance, 1-RM bench press, 1-RM squat, and one-leg balance within each group following training. Traditional training also elicited significant (p < 0.05) increases in bicep girth, forearm girth, calf girth, and sit-ups, while the functional training group experienced significant (p < 0.05) increases in shoulder girth and flexibility. Forearm girth and flexion test time changes following training were the only parameter where there were significant (p < 0.05) differences between training groups. Collectively, these results suggest that both programs are equally beneficial for increasing endurance, balance, and traditional measures of strength. However, changes in various girth measures, torso flexor endurance and flexibility appear to be program-specific.