CUT TO THE QUICK

Speed, balance and co-ordination are all benefits of agility training. So isn't it about time you added it in to your programme?

- Chantelle Pattemore

When thinking of 'agility W training', many envisage footballers running around cones or Formula One drivers hitting flashing light pods. But this type of training is not just for the elite athletes among us - and incorporating it into our regular workouts can offer myriad physical and cognitive benefits.

Sounds intriguing - but what exactly is it? "Agility training focuses on enhancing a person's ability to quickly change direction, maintain balance, and react to dynamic situations," explains Daniel Herman, a speed, agility, and quickness coach and founder of Bio-Synergy. "It emphasises speed, balance, coordination, and the ability to accelerate and decelerate efficiently." Compared to strength or endurance training, he highlights that agility concentrates more on dynamic movement patterns and responsiveness.

Agility training blends physical movement with rapid cognitive processing - and Michael Cummings, a strength and conditioning coach and director of education at BlazePod, says this combination makes the practice particularly effective. "To me, that's the biggest factor," he states. "Not only are you training your physical ability strength, speed, power - you're [also] decision-making and problem-solving."

Making gains

Plenty of research has explored the impacts of agility training on various aspects of physical health and fitness. As this type of training targets various muscle groups, requires strength and force, and gets the heart rate up, it's hardly a surprise the benefits are wide-reaching. For instance, research of those undergoing military training in the US found that individuals who focused on agility exercises enjoyed equal or better general fitness levels compared to those who focused solely on running and calisthenics.