How much does form matter, really?
Was Plato full of crap? Am I smarter than him? 🤔🤔🤔
There’s a lot of moralizing in exercise: this one is “good,” the other “bad.” Talking about the “right” or “wrong” way to do something, when, in reality, the exercise is an amoral, inanimate action. It is what it is, neither right or wrong. It’s “correctness” depends on context, purpose, and the individual performing the action: what are they trying to do? Accomplish an external task (such as moving the body through space [like a push-up] or moving load through space [like a deadlift]), or an internal objective (like muscle activation, mindfulness, or building body awareness)?
There’s no such thing as “perfect” form.
There are more or less effective ways to accomplish tasks, but that is only part of the picture.
A pretty small part, to be honest.
There are many factors that influence how and when we use exercises. Sometimes inefficient methods of moving load are desirable (bodybuilding/muscle isolation/hypertrophy). Other times we want to use the most effective paths available to us (powerlifting/strength athletics/max effort lifting).
There are compelling arguments for training sub-optimal or even “dangerous” movement patterns in order to build resilience in these patterns and positions. In fact, provided the trainee has sufficient understanding of the task at hand and trains within their capacity, there is no significant danger in doing this.
Look beyond arbitrary claims of right and wrong.
All bodies move differently and have different needs.
Intention adds another layer to the complexity of how and why to use certain movements. When intention leads your exercise selection and guides your training, working out becomes a much less murky proposition.
