The 'Fundamentals of Movement' are natural and functional movements that humans perform for physical tasks.

These fundamentals include:

• Running

• Jumping

• Throwing

• Catching

• Skipping

• Changing directions; and

• A number of strength based movements essential for human physical activity, health, daily tasks, sport performance and preventing injuries.

The strength-based movements uses major muscles groups in the lower body, upper body and core. These movements involve pushing and pulling type movements such as:

• Squat

• Deadlift

• Vertical push and pull

• Horizontal push and pull, and

• Ability to stabilise the body's core and stabilising muscles.

These movements are all essential for daily tasks, maintaining a stable posture and protecting the spine, improving strength, speed and jumping ability They are also essential for the development of the musculoskeletal system. In other words, develop the human body to function and move how the it is meant to function and move.

Practicing fundamental movements also help improve coordination, body awareness, body control, ability to absorb force and apply force.

Especially in young athletes.

The fundamentals are very important for developing strong bones, muscles, ligaments and tendons to be able to tolerate the high forces and impacts of sport and/or any physical activity youth expose themselves to.

At Inner Athlete, we start our youth athletes with the basis...the fundamentals.

We break down the movements and teach them how to perform each movement safely with correct technique and ensure they are moving well.

We then progress our athletes by challenging the body with difficulty, resistance, intensity, or a combination depending on the movement.

This allows the athlete to adapt and improve, making them stronger, faster and more athletic.

In summary, to improve human function and sport performance for young developing athletes, we need to PREPARE athletes by teaching the fundamental movements, PROGRESS the movements to improve, and perform these movements consistently in a structured training program to get the best results. The athlete can then PERFORM at their best in sport and life in general

PREPARE PROGRESS PERFORM

We hope this gives you a snapshot of the importance of learning the fundamental movements for young developing athletes and how to ensure optimal physical development.

If you want your child to perform at their best, please contact us.

Nathan Palenkas
Youth Fitness Specialist
Inner Athlete