Physical fitness analysis of strength training and functional fitness practitioners

The purpose of this study was to compare the physical fitness level of strength training (ST) and functional fitness (FF) practitioners. The study included 22 men (ST: 31.00 +/- 3.77 years; 84.30 +/- 12.79 kg; 1.76 +/- 0.09 m; BMI: 26.99 +/- 2.55; FF: 30.00 +/- 5.93 years; 84.24 +/- 10.44 kg; 1.75 +/- 0.05 m; BMI: 26.66 +/- 2.27). Participants should have at least one year of training experience. Each participant visited the laboratory on three occasions with a 24h-48h interval between visits. In the first visit, the collection of anthropometric measurements and the one repetition maximum test (1RM) were performed, and in the second, the 1RM retest. On the third visit, the Illinois Agility Test (IAT), Agility T Test, Functional Movement Screen (FMSTM) and Y Balance Test (YBT) assessment were conducted. A lower median was observed in the Agility T Test (p=0.002), as well as a higher total score on the FMSTM (p=0.038) for the FF group. No significant difference was observed for the IAT (p=0.154), and for relative muscle strength (bench press: p=0.226; squat: p=0.489). Therefore, the results allow us to conclude that, even with biomechanical and physiological differences between both exercise modalities, the results obtained are similar. Significance in the Agility T Test and in the FMSTM reveals a slightly higher trend in change-of-direction ability, agility and movement pattern in the FF group, a fact that is not corroborated by the IAT.