Can you do this stability challenge? All you need is a safe space, a pair of trainers with laces and a pair of socks!
Why should it matter if I need to sit down or hold onto something to take my socks and shoes on and off?
Functional mobility is the body’s ability to move in all the directions in which it was designed in order to perform everyday tasks such as walking, climbing stairs, gardening, bending, rotating, lifting and carrying. A functional move like this challenge requires core strength, balance, mobility, flexibility and co-ordination.
We are all ageing from the moment we are born although we don’t always view it that way – we have a tendency to see it as growing up before we go in the other direction and start to decline! From around our third decade, we lose around 8% of muscle mass per year. This is a generalisation of course and will vary from person to person based on many different lifestyle and genetic factors however, even so, to maintain what we had let alone increase our muscle mass, resistance training should be part of our lives. Ageing is inevitable but we can influence how we age. Challenging ourselves and being mindful about the way we move when carrying out daily tasks means that we can be maximising our strength, flexibility and balance gains – BONUS!
When we do resistance training, we are using a weight as a stimulus to strengthen our neuromuscular connections. With consistent effort, the body adapts to these forces and our neuromuscular connections and muscles grow stronger resulting in our bodies moving in a more efficient way which means we can become less prone to injury over time.
So, if you can’t complete this challenge yet, here are some suggestions for you to work on:
- Foot stability
- Ankle, knee and hip strength in both flexion and extension
- Core strength
- Posterior chain muscle strength
If you can – try doing it with your eyes closed or holding the balance parts of the challenge for longer!
This quick workout will hit many of these areas:
Grab a heavy and a lighter kettlebell and try this circuit, 30 seconds of each exercise x 3 rounds :
- KB squats
- KB calf raises
- KB overhead march (both sides)
You could also re-visit these blogs on our website for more ideas to build into your routine:
Remember to share your attempts with us by posting and tagging us on social media with the hashtags! #stabilitychallenge #tfdgym
Blog by Elaine Butler – Nutritional Advisor & Personal Trainer