How important is form?

When using improper form in resistance training you stand a good chance of bypassing certain muscle fibers, that would have normally been stimulated with good form. Well-rounded muscle stimulation is key for full growth.

Mind-Muscle Connection

Having a mind-muscle connection can help you achieve the sculpted body you desire. Professional athletes throughout the years have mastered this biological connection between muscle and thought.

With trillions of cells and about 78 organs in our bodies, optimal performance is crucial, and our brains direct the way. The brain receives, absorbs, and inputs data from all senses. It coordinates every cell and organ in our bodies. Creating certain thoughts at specific times can manipulate biological outcomes. Our minds and bodies’ “fight or flight” response when we perceive a threat, is a perfect example of a mind and body connection.

In this fight or flight state our minds and bodies prepare themselves to either stay and fight a certain adversary or flee from the threat. This is truly an amazing primal response. In this fight or flight response, our pupils dilate to take in more light. This is especially helpful if the danger occurs at night, so it could be easier to see. Our bronchi expand so we can take in more oxygen into our lungs, to help meet our heart’s impending increased need for oxygen. Our heart rate will also beat faster to accommodate this oxygen demand. This fascinating primal programming is nature’s way of keeping us safe and in harmony with our external environment. It is all associated with perceived thoughts.

We can use this power of thought in the gym! By telling our brains to pay attention to certain muscle groups we are trying to stimulate—especially during the exercise.

In a 2014 study conducted at the Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine, volunteers had their wrists wrapped in surgical casts for 4 weeks. Half of the participants were instructed to sit quietly and visualize flexing their immobile wrists, for 11 minutes a day five times a week. The other group was instructed to do nothing. When the casts were removed those who visualized flexing their wrists, were twice as strong as those who were instructed not to visualize. An amazing study on the power of thought.

Along with the great benefits of a mind-muscle connection, proper form will prevent the wasting of energy and time by making your workouts more efficient. Some gym-goers often rock their bodies just to complete a repetition, throwing form totally out the window. Some may do this because of ego lifting, others do it because they want to beat the last weight they lifted. And others were just not properly trained in using good form. Whatever the reason improper form can hurt your gains and cause injury. Making it that much harder to obtain the goals you desire.

Helpful links:

Mind Muscle Connection | Mind Muscle Connection for Exercise (runnersworld.com)

Importance of mind-muscle connection during progressive resistance training - PubMed (nih.gov)

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