Płusa R1, Pyszora A2
1Nicolaus Copernicus University, Collegium Medicum, Students’ Scientific Society, Department of Palliative Care, Bydgoszcz, Poland, 2Nicolaus Copernicus University, Collegium Medicum, Department of Palliative Care, Bydgoszcz, Poland
Background: Strength training remains an overlooked and underappreciated form of physical activity within the medical community. However, its overall positive impact on the whole body cannot be disputed, since strength is the foundation of all physical adaptation. It is often believed that training based on heavy multi-joint barbell exercises carries a high risk of injury. Proof of its safety could potentially convince physical therapists to utilize its principles more often in everyday practice.
Purpose: The main purpose of this paper was to investigate the correlation between exercise form and occurrence of specific injuries, as well as to determine level of knowledge of exercise form and its relevance in the group of healthy young men who are regularly strength training in order to present proof of safety of training based on heavy barbell lifts provided that correct form is utilized.
Methods: Study group consisted of 40 healthy men aged 20-28, training the squat, the deadlift and the bench press regularly at least once a week. The participants weren't using any performance enhancing drugs nor were professional athletes. Their lifting experience as well as maximum strength on mentioned lifts varied across a wide spectrum. Each of the participants filled the questionnaire which included the test regarding exercise technique and questions about injuries or pain experienced in given areas of the body. Their technique on the lifts in question was also judged. Participants were instructed to perform the sets the way they regularly do in training.
Results: There was significant correlation between particular injuries and specific technical errors both ways. Out of 45 total declared injuries - 34 found confirmation in corresponding errors (p 0,01). 10 more could have been explained by physically demanding job or activity or performing dangerous isolation exercises. 35 out of 47 technical errors made by participants corresponded with injuries of specific body areas (p 0,001). Group that did not declare any injury achieved statistically better results in part of the study where exercise form had been judged compared to groups that declared 1 injury or more (p 0,001). The average score on the test was 9-10 points out of 18. There was no correlation between the test results and number of technique errors, only exception being the part regarding the bench press (p 0,01).
Conclusion(s): Strength training incorporating compound barbell exercises is a very safe form of physical activity provided that proper form is used. Specific technical errors correspond with injuries of particular body areas and joints. Knowlegde of proper exercise form is a poor prediction of utilizing correct technique within studied group, probably due to poor body awareness and tendency to ego-lift.
Implications: Physical therapy community should be more eager to implement strength training principles in everyday practice, although possessing skills to teach proper exercise form is required.
Keywords: strength training, injuries
Funding acknowledgements: The work was unfunded.
Purpose: The main purpose of this paper was to investigate the correlation between exercise form and occurrence of specific injuries, as well as to determine level of knowledge of exercise form and its relevance in the group of healthy young men who are regularly strength training in order to present proof of safety of training based on heavy barbell lifts provided that correct form is utilized.
Methods: Study group consisted of 40 healthy men aged 20-28, training the squat, the deadlift and the bench press regularly at least once a week. The participants weren't using any performance enhancing drugs nor were professional athletes. Their lifting experience as well as maximum strength on mentioned lifts varied across a wide spectrum. Each of the participants filled the questionnaire which included the test regarding exercise technique and questions about injuries or pain experienced in given areas of the body. Their technique on the lifts in question was also judged. Participants were instructed to perform the sets the way they regularly do in training.
Results: There was significant correlation between particular injuries and specific technical errors both ways. Out of 45 total declared injuries - 34 found confirmation in corresponding errors (p 0,01). 10 more could have been explained by physically demanding job or activity or performing dangerous isolation exercises. 35 out of 47 technical errors made by participants corresponded with injuries of specific body areas (p 0,001). Group that did not declare any injury achieved statistically better results in part of the study where exercise form had been judged compared to groups that declared 1 injury or more (p 0,001). The average score on the test was 9-10 points out of 18. There was no correlation between the test results and number of technique errors, only exception being the part regarding the bench press (p 0,01).
Conclusion(s): Strength training incorporating compound barbell exercises is a very safe form of physical activity provided that proper form is used. Specific technical errors correspond with injuries of particular body areas and joints. Knowlegde of proper exercise form is a poor prediction of utilizing correct technique within studied group, probably due to poor body awareness and tendency to ego-lift.
Implications: Physical therapy community should be more eager to implement strength training principles in everyday practice, although possessing skills to teach proper exercise form is required.
Keywords: strength training, injuries
Funding acknowledgements: The work was unfunded.
Topic: Sport & sports injuries
Ethics approval required: Yes
Institution: Nicolaus Copernicus University in Torun
Ethics committee: Bioethics Committee of the L. Rydygier Collegium Medicum in Bydgoszcz
Ethics number: KB 658/2017
All authors, affiliations and abstracts have been published as submitted.
