National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM) Group Fitness Instructor Practice Exam

What does the term "functional training" refer to in group fitness?

1. Training that focuses on specific sports

2. Training that improves everyday movement patterns

3. Training that isolates muscle groups

4. Training that exclusively uses machines

The correct answer is: Training that improves everyday movement patterns

The term "functional training" refers to training that improves everyday movement patterns. This type of training is designed to enhance the body's ability to perform daily activities more effectively and efficiently by simulating common movements that individuals encounter in their day-to-day lives. Functional training often involves exercises that work multiple muscle groups simultaneously, promoting strength, stability, and coordination. It emphasizes the importance of movement patterns such as squatting, lunging, pushing, pulling, and twisting. By improving these fundamental movement patterns, functional training helps participants build a functional strength that translates into real-life applications, reducing the risk of injury and improving overall fitness. The other options do not accurately describe functional training. Training that focuses on specific sports is geared toward enhancing performance in particular athletic tasks rather than everyday movements. Training that isolates muscle groups is often related to bodybuilding or strength training, focusing on individual muscles rather than functional movement. Training that exclusively uses machines can limit the range of motion and does not necessarily mimic the natural movements of everyday life, which is a core principle of functional training.