It seems strange the coaches often need to explain the importance of using the correct technique to improve movement quality. In our “more is better” society we seem to have forgotten the importance of movement quality.
We see so-called “high-intensity classes” encouraging people to perform high volumes of repetitions for time and rounds with very little focus on the quality of movement. No wonder so many people have terrible mobility and are riddled with injuries.
What are the benefits of performing the movement with the correct technique?
A lower chance of injury, which means more time in the gym and therefor,e more progress
An increased range of motion, which in turn increases strength, power, speed and mobility
Effective movement uses less energy, so you could say its a hack to improve fitness.
Quality movements build strength that is transferable to other movements. You progress faster.
When we’re learning new movements, the form will not be perfect. It takes time to:
Build the strength
Build the flexibility
Build motor learning patterns
Understand the mechanics of the movement and experiment with slight variations to suit the individual.
Injury, lifestyle, and lever length are some variables that dictate the movement patterns.
The goal is to move towards a certain level of movement quality that allows us to:
Move pain-free and not get injured
Build a foundation of strength
Work through a full range of motion or as close as we can get
Once we’ve built the capacity to perform a specific movement, we can add the volume or intensity to challenge the movement and continue progressing.
If we add volume or intensity before building a solid foundation, it’s only a matter of time before we get injured.
When we add too much volume, let’s say a high-intensity workout with lots of reps, the body naturally starts to fatigue and movement quality often degrades. This teaches us to move badly under fatigue, which is not what we want.
When we add too much intensity, let's say we put too much weight on the bar, often perform partial reps, or struggle to maintain good form. If the goal is to build strength, strength is gained in the range of motion trained, and if we’re not performing a movement with the correct form, we’re not training the proper movement. Where not building strength in the correct movement pattern.
Moving faster and doing more low-quality repetitions will not help you improve your movement quality. It's going to:
Teach you to move badly
Increase the chance of injury
Impact your mobility
Slow down your progress
Lower your fitness capacity due to inefficient movement
Impact your health and longevity
Loads of benefits come from building a solid foundation and learning to perform movements with the correct form.