How Much Can a Floor Effect Your Sports Fitness Performance

One of the most overlooked elements of a gym or sports facility is the flooring.  Let’s be honest, flooring isn’t the most thrilling aspect of a new fitness space when you’re busy selecting sleek new gym equipment and configuring your ideal layout.

But, if chosen wisely, the right flooring will not only give you years of supported workouts and injury protection, but it can make you a better athlete.

Whether you’re a regular gym user, a Martial Arts enthusiast or a professional sportsperson, the platform you opt for is quite literally at the core of your success.

In this article, we’ll navigate the world of fitness flooring and explore why some floor solutions work better in specific applications and most importantly, how the correct flooring can contribute to achieving fitness goals and superior performance.

Which Floor Type?

The first thing to consider when deciding on a floor solution is the intended activities or discipline. Flooring materials will behave differently for various sports and can help or hinder how you execute movements, deliver technique and impact your overall experience.  Let’s look at this in more detail by considering a few examples of common fitness activities and sports.

Martial Arts & Boxing

The MMA community favours foam matting as their go-to training platform.  This is down to two key reasons.  Firstly, the high-density open-cell material offers the best body cushioning and protection for this type of high-impact activity.  The soft but firm surface prevents friction burns and allows athletes to train intensely for long hours without fatigue and discomfort.

Secondly, the non-slip, textured tatami top layer is designed for optimal traction which means trainers can retain control over their footwork and balance during grappling and tackling opponents.  An absolute must with combat sports.

Practising on high-quality foam matting can make all the difference in developing personal technique and getting more out of training sessions.

Weightlifting

You may have noticed the dense rubber flooring and lifting platforms installed within Free Weight zones at the gym.  Rubber flooring, used in various thicknesses, is the most popular floor option for areas where there is heavy equipment, weight-dropping and a prevalence of moisture in the atmosphere.

This is due to the material being highly protective and non-porous with superior sound-reducing qualities.  It means it provides adequate shock absorption to prevent injury while minimising air-borne sound and vibration.  Similarly, the rubber flooring remains low maintenance and anti-bacterial during intense use as moisture can be wiped clean and will not be absorbed into the core.

But where does performance come in?

As well as safeguarding against injury, rubber flooring allows for excellent foot traction and positioning in competitive weightlifting.  In particular, rubberised lifting stations are designed with the exact measurements needed for lifters to determine the precise placement of their feet and hands.  Competitive lifters need these floor qualities to master their form, sharpen their lifting stance and achieve optimal performance.

Rubber has a slightly textured surface which is naturally slip-resistant.  This also enhances user performance by providing the perfect balance of friction and fluidity for fast-paced strength workouts that focus on agility and resistance such as HIIT and CrossFit.

Sprinting/Sled-Pulling & Circuit Training

For highly paced and labour-intensive activities such as sprinting and circuit training, athletes need to have maximum grip and rotation as well as excellent shock absorption.

Artificial gym turf provides the necessary traction and foot control needed for top performance in this field.  It comes in lane or track format which can be tailored with the exact markings and features needed for personalised training sessions which are dedicated to driving results.

The low-pile artificial turf mimics the traditional grass of athletic field surfaces while boosting shock impact and providing extra comfort during high-powered sessions.

Ball Sports

With regards to ball sports such as Basketball, Football and Netball, players rely on ball bounce and speed to stay on top of their game and this quite plainly comes down to surface choice.

Sports facilities tend to accommodate multiple sports in one space which means they need to deliver the performance criteria of the key disciplines when opting for a floor solution.  This is where Area Elastic Sprung flooring systems are adopted to meet the regulation standards of each sport.

Area Elastic systems are hardwood undercarriage systems using a combination of battens and foam to create a floor which deflects impact across the entire surface.  This means athletes can achieve superior ball bounce, rolling speed and deflection which are critical to their game performance.

This multi-layered system also allows for maximum shock absorption and comfort giving players an additional advantage during consistent training and skill development of their sport.

Home Gym Workouts

More and more of us have taken personal fitness into our own hands by creating a dedicated workout space at home.  Similar to weight and strength workouts, home gymers benefit from rubber flooring solutions which come in various thicknesses, styles and designs to accommodate different training methods and levels of impact.

It plays a big role in how much you will get out of a home-style studio in many ways.

Maintains Motivation

Both elevating your workout experience and carving out the space you need to practice well-planned workouts is a real motivation booster.  Having a fully functional gym space can only serve to provide more comfort and increased commitment to your goals.

Progression

A functional home gym allows for more tailored workouts and advancement.  It is easier to track your progress, sample different techniques and master your form.

Consistency

Keeping consistent with a workout schedule is half the battle in achieving long-term fitness goals.  An at-home workout studio allows you to plan your schedule against work and home commitments, offering more flexibility and autonomy when it comes to when and how you exercise.

Balance

One of the most difficult aspects of maintaining an active lifestyle is achieving the correct equilibrium between home life, a busy work schedule and self-care.  Creating a home gym gives you the freedom and opportunity to balance these elements of your life much more efficiently.  Having your own space to work out ensures you are distributing your valued time evenly among the things that matter most.

Final Thoughts

From enhanced home workouts to elevated ball games and high-performing MMA,  a well-chosen floor will not only save you money and time, but it can also be the catalyst to realising your true potential when it comes to your favourite sport.

If you select the proper flooring system suited to your discipline and make wise choices when it comes to quality and design then you’re halfway there.

An overlooked tool in your arsenal of equipment, the proper flooring allows you to fine-tune your performance, upgrade your skills and be consistent in how you nurture your capacity to become a better athlete.

Home Gym Workouts

Rubber floors, available in various thicknesses and styles, accommodate different training methods and impact levels. An at-home space maintains motivation through progression, consistency, and work-life balance – ultimately elevating performance.

In conclusion, properly selecting flooring suited to your sport allows refining skills and consistency, paving the way for true potential realisation and boosting success. It is an overlooked but vital tool.