When it comes to training, and movement in general, proper technique reigns supreme.
Going through the motions is one thing, but executing exercises with focused and purposeful movement is what gives you the greatest return on time invested.
Here's why meticulous attention to technique should be at the heart of every exercise, set, and repetition.
The Importance of Proper Technique
Optimal Muscle Activation
Proper technique ensures that each muscle group is targeted effectively.
The human body has optimal ways of moving. By aligning our movements with these natural patterns, we allow muscles to activate fully, leading to increases in strength and size.
Injury Prevention
Incorrect form is a recipe for injuries. It may not happen quickly but improper technique, over time, makes injuries an inevitability.
Proper technique helps maintain alignment and balance that the human body is built for, significantly reducing the risk of strains, sprains, and other injuries that could sideline you.
And, when we’re sidelined from injuries, we can’t train. It’s in your best interest to do everything you can to avoid them.
Consequences of Ignoring Technique
Technical vs. Muscular Failure
Understanding the difference between technical and muscular failure is crucial.
Technical failure occurs when you can no longer perform another rep with proper technique. You could force more repetitions, but this would mean sacrificing correct form.
Muscular failure, on the other hand, is when you've pushed past technical failure to the point where you can’t perform any more repetitions, even with improper technique.
We should never push beyond technical failure. Doing so reduces the effectiveness of training sessions and increases the risk of injury.
Excessive Fatigue and Its Pitfalls
Forcing past technical failure dramatically increases fatigue, necessitating longer recovery periods. This often leads to excessive fatigue, which not only undermines the effectiveness of subsequent training sessions but also poses serious injury risks.
Moreover, the diminishing effectiveness of training means you’re investing more time for lesser returns. Over time, this leads to an ever decreasing return on the time invested, especially when pushing past the bounds of proper technique.
It's a stark reminder that more is not always better, especially when it compromises safety.
To Review
Focusing on technique enhances the quality of each movement, leading to safer and more effective training sessions.
When it comes to movement, how you perform each exercise is just as important as the exercise itself.
Technique protects, empowers, and optimizes your fitness journey.