Physical fitness trends evolve from decade to decade and the general population of society embraces one or the other as more progressive thinking assists us in more functional exercises for everyday life.
However tactical athletes may need to be more functionally fit for optimal job performance compared to those in the general population who may not have such a physically demanding job. Tactical athletes must exhibit a broad range of physical adaptations or traits that may be called upon at a moment’s notice.
With functional training, it really is about convenience and access to a well-thought-out program. During a functional program, the idea is to train the body in all three planes of anatomical motion—the sagittal, frontal, and transverse planes. The sagittal plane separates the left and right sides of the body, the frontal (or coronal) plane separates the anterior and posterior, and the transverse plane separates the upper (superior) and lower (inferior) halves. All tactical athletes need to be able to efficiently move their bodies in these planes so they are fully equipped to proficiently maneuver through any physically demanding task they encounter. Not only does training functionally accomplish these objectives but, it also assists the operator in preventing musculoskeletal (MSK) injuries.