Exercising can work wonders for our bodies as long as they are performed in the proper manner. Those who exercise with poor form can experience disastrous results. It is very easy to injure yourself and end up on the mend for weeks or even months. Faulty form can even cause permanent injuries. Let's take a look at how to properly perform some of the most common exercises.
Hip Raises
If your knees fall out during hip raises, your groin muscles (adductors) do not have adequate strength. Place a cushion or towel in between the knees while lifting. Take care to not let it fall. This will help strengthen your groin muscles while simultaneously giving your thigh muscles a good workout.
Squats
When most people perform squats, they tend to look down. This is done instinctively. Unfortunately, looking down during squats causes the body to lean forward by a few degrees. While it might seem like a minor issue, it can have a significant impact on the body. If you lean forward while performing your squats, you might strain your back. Focus on keeping your upper body lifted high and never look down. This will decrease the risk of a lower back injury, help you boost the amount of weight that you can lift and improve your rep counts.
Pushups
While pushups might seem like a simple exercise, plenty of people perform them with a flawed form. To perform pushups in the proper manner, refrain from putting your palms flat on the ground. Make use of hex-shaped dumbbells. Hold their handles in order to flatten out your wrists and alleviate unnecessary pressure that could cause an injury. This technique will also increase your rep counts.
Lunges
When you perform lunges, hold a dumbbell on only one side. Doing so forces the obliques and lower back muscles to stabilize the rest of the body. This transforms lunges into an exercise that works the core as well as the legs. Try it out and you'll understand the efficiency of this technique.
If you'd like some professional instruction that will help you decrease your chances of an injury, lean on the experienced personal trainers at the Downtown Athletic Club in Amarillo. Our trainers will work with you one on one or in a group setting. Let us know what you are most comfortable with and we will make it happen. While we encourage all Amarillo residents to become members, membership is not necessary for our personal trainer services.
Hip Raises
If your knees fall out during hip raises, your groin muscles (adductors) do not have adequate strength. Place a cushion or towel in between the knees while lifting. Take care to not let it fall. This will help strengthen your groin muscles while simultaneously giving your thigh muscles a good workout.
Squats
When most people perform squats, they tend to look down. This is done instinctively. Unfortunately, looking down during squats causes the body to lean forward by a few degrees. While it might seem like a minor issue, it can have a significant impact on the body. If you lean forward while performing your squats, you might strain your back. Focus on keeping your upper body lifted high and never look down. This will decrease the risk of a lower back injury, help you boost the amount of weight that you can lift and improve your rep counts.
Pushups
While pushups might seem like a simple exercise, plenty of people perform them with a flawed form. To perform pushups in the proper manner, refrain from putting your palms flat on the ground. Make use of hex-shaped dumbbells. Hold their handles in order to flatten out your wrists and alleviate unnecessary pressure that could cause an injury. This technique will also increase your rep counts.
Lunges
When you perform lunges, hold a dumbbell on only one side. Doing so forces the obliques and lower back muscles to stabilize the rest of the body. This transforms lunges into an exercise that works the core as well as the legs. Try it out and you'll understand the efficiency of this technique.
If you'd like some professional instruction that will help you decrease your chances of an injury, lean on the experienced personal trainers at the Downtown Athletic Club in Amarillo. Our trainers will work with you one on one or in a group setting. Let us know what you are most comfortable with and we will make it happen. While we encourage all Amarillo residents to become members, membership is not necessary for our personal trainer services.
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