When it comes to injury recovery or rehabilitation, most people understand the importance of doing their prescribed exercises. But what’s often overlooked is how those exercises are being done. Completing your program is important, but the way you perform each movement is also important.
There Is Rarely Only One “Correct” Way to Move
In many cases, there is no single right or wrong way to do an exercise. Movement naturally varies from person to person, and perfect form is often not required. A general guideline is that if your technique is about 80% correct, that’s usually good enough.
However, context is important. If the goal is general strength or fitness, minor variations in technique may not matter much. But in rehabilitation, especially following an injury, technique may need to be more to properly target the right muscles and avoid further issues. In these situations, attention to detail can make a big difference.
People Often Aren’t Aware When Their Technique Is Off
One of the most common issues in rehabilitation is poor body awareness. Many people complete their exercises thinking they are doing them correctly, but without realising it, they are compensating or moving in ways that reduce the effectiveness of the exercise.
These compensations may happen due to pain, weakness, habit, or simply a lack of familiarity with how the movement should feel. Without feedback, it’s easy to unknowingly reinforce less desirable movement patterns.
Technique Should Be Tailored to the Individual
There is no clear cut one size fits all approach to exercise technique. Movements should be adapted based on several factors, including:
- Type and location of injury
- Current pain levels
- Muscle imbalances or weakness
- Range of motion and joint mobility
- Body structure
- Individual goals
- Stage of rehabilitation
What works for one person might not be appropriate for another. This is why guided rehabilitation is so important, especially in the early phases of recovery.
The Importance of Ensuring Your Exercise Form and Technique Are Being Appropriately
Monitored
Some individuals have good natural body awareness and exercise execution skills, and may not require frequent review of their technique. For these people, occasional check-ins may be sufficient or as advised by their physiotherapist.
Conversely, individuals who are new to exercise, have limited body awareness, or present with complex injuries may benefit from having their technique reviewed more frequently. It is common for some patients to try exercises independently for several weeks beyond their initial guidance, only to return later performing the movements quite differently from how they were originally taught. Without timely review, these unintended changes can reduce the effectiveness of the rehabilitation program.
The frequency of technique review is typically guided by your physiotherapist’s clinical judgement, depending on your needs and stage of recovery. Having your form checked at appropriate times helps to identify errors early, allowing for timely adjustments to your program.
How to Make Sure You Are Doing It Right
To ensure your exercises are helping you recover as effectively as possible:
- Follow your physiotherapist’s advice on when to have your technique reviewed
- Record yourself doing the exercises. Watching the video can help identify any compensations or movements that don’t match what was intended
- Ask questions. If you’re not sure what muscles you should be feeling or why you’re doing a certain movement, your physiotherapist can guide you
Summary
It’s important to remember that striving for perfection shouldn’t stop you from doing your exercises. The goal isn’t to move flawlessly, but to get the most out of your rehab by focusing on quality where it matters. Especially in situations where technique plays a key role, even small improvements in how you move can lead to better results.
The best approach is to stay consistent, seek feedback when advised, and adjust as needed. With the right guidance, your exercises will do what they are meant to do: help you recover faster and more fully.
