Yesterday was far too lazy to be a Monday. Brad stayed home sick from work and I must have had sympathy lazies. I also felt the need to lay on the couch, take a nap, and watch a few too many episodes of last season’s True Blood. Oops! We did get the laundry done yesterday so we came out a bit ahead.
I also made Brad brunch when he finally got out of bed. Brunch on a Monday is pretty darn awesome.
Before the Monday brunching took place I had my regular Monday doctor appointment. I felt like I had a bit of a setback last week. My knee and hip were in more pain than I had been in quite a few weeks. I over did it a bit on last week’s fitness with seven straight days of workout out (and twice last Friday). My thoughts were that everything was hurting from overuse.
However, I realized during the workout part of yesterday’s appointment that I’m starting to let form suffer a bit. Every week for at least a month I’ve been graduating to harder and harder exercises. Now most of my moves are weighted and the weight has been increasing too. While focusing on the weight I seem to have lost some of the basic body positioning (form) rules that are vital to my injury recovery.
So yesterday for the first time, I didn’t step up to harder exercises or more weight. I had to re-do some exercises while concentrating on form. Yesterday’s appointment was a very important reminder.
Form is the MOST important factor in working out. There is no reason to be increasing weight or adding new moves if you are sacrificing form. Bad form is just begging for injuries.
My physical therapy homework for this week is getting back to basics.
As my reward, next week I get to work on running. My doctor is going to video tape me on the treadmill.
How do you keep good form? Any resources you use to research correct form?
Amen to that! Form is key. I have a physio appt this evening for my ankle and am going to ask him to watch me run, just in case I’m doing something that I shouldn’t without knowing. In the past, I’ve worked with a trainer for strength training and learned a lot from him about proper form, as well as reading online descriptions of moves, like the ones on Bodybuilding.com. I have, however, seen some very bad descriptions on other sites of how to do certain moves, so I think readers have to be careful of that!
Definitely agree with that! I generally do gravity strength training 3-4 times per week. I’m fortunate that the studio I go to limits the classes to 8-10 people. Generally the classes are never full and we’re able to get a lot of personalized attention. That makes a big difference in ensuring you’re doing the moves correctly, effectively, etc.
I also found doing yoga can be really helpful with form – in the sense that you’re more aware of your body, keeping alignment, etc. Even looking in the mirror when working out helps!
Working with a trainer, audio instructions, or even just in a class is great for me. I’m the type of person that constantly needs to be reminded to check my form, and it helps.
While running, I’m always checking in with what my body is doing and, when I get the chance, I like to run past reflective structures just so I can see it for myself.
Definitely agree that form matters most. You will get more benefits doing a modified move or a move with less weight while using proper form and controlled motions, than trying to push it and using improper form. Great post!
True words. I’m pretty cautious about my form. In group fitness classes, I always try to snag a spot where I have a mirror view, and with the one teacher who loves to double- and triple-time complex movements, I put my pride aside and keep a slower pace if I feel my form slipping. And, like you said, keeping the weight at your level.
I agree with Danielle above about how yoga – and pilates – can help with form just because they’re ALL about form and core strength, knowing which part of your body is moving and which are staying still, knowing when you’re over- or under-extending, knowing the difference between your strength and your momenum. Very good point!
good form is hard, i think especially when you get tired which recovering muscles often are!
I have to bring myself back to that instead of zoning out once in awhile during every workout
When I’m unsure of how to do an exercise I watch a video on how to do the form. I think an exercise is pointless if it’s done in bad form.
I 100% believe in proper form when exercising! Don’t exercise your ego with heavier weights if you can’t do it properly! I’d rather use lighter weights and know I’m doing it right and exercising the muscle group I intended to