The Leaning Tower of Pisa was not supposed to lean. Built in the 12 century on ground that was too soft, an inadequate foundation caused the tower to lean on one side. Over time the tilt increased and was finally
stabilized centuries later.
Improper strength training can cause you to be like the Leaning Tower of Pisa with a body that is unbalanced and primed for injury.The National Federation of Personal trainers states:
“One of the most important reasons to maintain proper form during weight lifting exercises is to prevent injury. When we lift a lot of heavy weight, this can cause the body to become misaligned that can place your tendons, muscles and joints in positions that can potentially cause strains or tears.”
In exercise building a proper foundation with good form is critical to keep our bodies from becoming misaligned. Training with poor form places excessive stress on your body and can lead to injury.
If you are new to weight training or have been training awhile, but have added weight or resistance while using poor form, follow these guidelines:
Form First - Use proper form. Learn to do each exercise correctly. When lifting weights, move through the full range of motion in your joints. The better your form, the better your results, and the less likely you are to hurt yourself. If you're unable to maintain good form, decrease the weight or the number of repetitions. Remember that proper form
matters even when you pick up and replace your weights on the weight racks.
Establish Adequate Range of Motion - Move through the proper range of motion. In each exercise there is a proper range of motion that the body should be able to move through. A good example is the squat movement where your goal should be to achieve a position where the thighs are parallel to the ground.
Add Resistance only after your form is good and you have reached a functional range of motion. Adding resistance to poor form or a short range of motion increases the risk for injury and does not allow you to gain strength.
Follow these guidelines when you lift weights and you will have a strong balanced body and not be a Leaning Tower of Pisa.
