The Importance of Proper Form in Exercise

Plenty of people, whether beginners or "experienced" exercisers, display improper form when performing exercise.  Exercise is truly an art, and those who fail to seek professional guidance or education on correct use put themselves at a high risk for muscular imbalance, injury, and even death.  Everything from walking to high intensity strength training involves correct form in order to prevent any negative side effects.

The human gait, or way of locomotion with limbs, varies by gender, but also can be affected by muscular imbalances and injuries.  We have all seen common gait abnormalities which include pigeon toe, waddling, toe walking, etc.  Because walking is learned at an early age, certain muscles can become tight while others very flexible, which may result in an imbalance.  The imbalance will only reinforce the improper locomotive pattern and likely carry on into adulthood.  However, gait can be corrected through proper instruction, stretching methods, and strength training to reverse the imbalance.  A typical walking pattern exhibits a heel or midfoot strike, whereas a typical running pattern exhibits a midfoot or forefoot strike.  External or internal rotation of the foot is likely a result of an imbalance in the lower half, as well as pronation or supination of the feet.

If there are already discrepancies in the normal walking pattern, one may find certain resistance training exercises difficult, such as squats, lunges, or anything that involves the lower extremities.  An overhead squat assessment test, administered by a trainer, can help discover any imbalances that may exist throughout the body.  This test will allow the administrator to see what muscles are tight and what muscles are weak in both the upper and lower extremities.  Because the body works together as a synergistic unit, one cannot assume that the legs work independently from the upper body.  An overtightness of the chest or back muscles can greatly affect a squat assessment.

Most first time exercisers will not correctly perform the majority of the exercises they attempt without proper instruction.  The best advice is to seek a knowledgeable, skilled, and certified trainer to assist in your exercises program.  You can read my article on Choosing a Personal Trainer.