Functional training for swimmers

Functional strength training involves performing work against resistance in such a manner that the improvements in strength directly enhance the performance of movements so that an individual's activities of daily living are easier to perform. Simply stated, the primary goal of functional training is to transfer the improvements in strength achieved in one movement to enhancing the performance of another movement by affecting the entire neuromuscular system.

In functional training, it is as critical to train the specific movement as it is to train the muscles involved in the movement. The brain, which controls muscular movement, thinks in terms of whole motions, not individual muscles.

When designing your strength program, you should focus mainly on exercises related to the movements that you are going to use in swimming. Other exercises may use the same muscles as those involved in swimming, but only exercises, which use the right muscles in a related mechanical movement will provide optimum training benefit.

There is a great article writen by Heather Sumulong that can be found on the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) site. You can find the pdf file here. It worths your time reading it!!!!