CINCINNATI (WKRC) – The latest trend in fitness, known as functional fitness, is gaining popularity for its personalized approach to health and wellness.
Unlike traditional weight training and cardio, functional fitness tailors exercises to individual goals, helping participants achieve better health outcomes.
The latest trend in fitness, known as functional fitness, is gaining popularity for its personalized approach to health and wellness. (WKRC)
Lori Ledermeier from West Chester shared her experience: “I wanted to avoid medication, and I had been doing cardio and walking, was doing great, and kind of hurt my hip.”
For Ledermeier, functional fitness meant being able to walk throughout the day with less pain.
Similarly, Kim Rioux, another program participant, said, “So my bones are weakening, I have degenerative discs, I have a lot of things going on, and I’m starting to get nervous that I’m falling apart. That’s kind of how I feel.”
Rioux’s goal was to reduce back pain and maintain her health for as long as possible.
Both women enrolled in a program led by Karen Sims, manager of the TriHealth Medical Exercise Program. Sims designs functional fitness programs based on daily activities and individual needs.
“What are the things that we have to do throughout the day, and how do we strengthen ourselves to be able to continue to do them?” Sims explained.
She emphasized the importance of functional activities like squats, stating, “I think one of the absolute most functional activities there is is a squat because we have to be able to squat to get through our day.”
Sims noted that if individuals struggle with basic movements, transitioning to traditional cardio or weight training could be challenging.
“It’s really finding the activities that they want to do or they need to do and making sure we help them gain the strength and endurance to be able to do it,” she said.
Sims also highlighted that good health habits tend to be contagious. As participants achieve their initial goals, other types of fitness activities become more accessible.
