If you’re wondering what is functional movement training and its importance to people living with disabilities, we will discuss them briefly below to serve as a guide on why you should consider it.
Functional movement training is a highly practical approach to exercise that focuses on building the strength, confidence, and independence needed for daily routines. Unlike traditional exercise, which may focus on isolated muscles, this method teaches your body to move in ways that are directly relevant to your everyday life.
Unlocking My Ability frequently uses this approach to help NDIS participants achieve their personal goals as It’s all about enhancing your physical capabilities for real-world scenarios.
What Is It and Why Does It Matter?
What is functional movement training, exactly? In simple terms, functional movement training is a type of exercise that focuses on movements you use every day. It mimics real-life actions like squatting, reaching, pushing, pulling, and rotating. The goal is to improve how your body works as a whole, to make it stronger, more stable, and less prone to injury.
For NDIS participants, this means greater support in tasks like standing up from a chair, carrying groceries, or bending down safely. It’s not about lifting the heaviest weights but making everyday life more manageable and enjoyable.
Functional Training Empowers Everyone
Functional movement training helps to build a more empowered life, and its benefits extend to individuals of all ages and abilities. We see incredible results at Unlocking My Ability, supporting people who are managing conditions like autism or chronic pain, as well as those recovering from an injury.
Through this training, participants can improve their balance, coordination, strength, and core stability, which in turn enhances their confidence in daily tasks and helps prevent future injuries. Ultimately, these gains lead to increased independence and a much higher quality of life.
Functional Movement In Practice
A functional movement programme is a tailored approach that incorporates a range of exercises to support daily activities. This might include squats to improve sitting and standing movements, lunges to build stability for walking, and reaching or overhead exercises to enhance upper-body range. Rotational movements are also used for tasks like turning and twisting, while core engagement activities help protect the spine and support posture.
Each plan is customised to the individual, with goals centred around what matters most to them. Sessions can be led by qualified professionals like exercise physiologists, personal trainers, or allied health professionals, some of whom may be funded through your NDIS plan.
Functional Movement Strength Training
For individuals with physical goals focused on endurance and resilience, functional movement strength training is an effective next step. This approach combines functional movements with resistance, using tools like bands, light weights, or bodyweight exercises to safely develop strength.
The key is not simply getting stronger, but building strength that is directly useful in your day-to-day life. This training can be especially helpful for participants who experience fatigue, balance challenges, or muscle weakness due to their disability or medical condition.
Functional training is all about helping you do more, feel stronger, and move with confidence. If you’ve ever wondered what is functional movement training, now you know. It’s a personalised, practical, and powerful way to build strength for the things that matter most. Ask us how functional movement training can be included in your NDIS plan.
Helping You Unlock Your Abilities
Unlocking My Ability is here to support individuals and families at every stage of their NDIS journey. From checking your eligibility to helping prepare applications and build your capacity, we’re ready to assist. If you’re feeling uncertain about the process, don’t hesitate to reach out to a team who truly understands the system and can help you get the support you need.
