There Is No Perfect Form!

This might be a controversial topic—the idea of form when performing exercises. Many people believe that there is a perfect form for every exercise, and that if you don’t execute it perfectly, you’re doing it wrong. The belief is that better form leads to better outcomes.

In my experience, this rigid mindset can actually hinder progress and make it more difficult to achieve patient goals. Here’s why:

Everyone Is Different

Each person has unique characteristics—different body types, experiences, flexibility levels, and movement patterns. Expecting everyone to perform exercises in exactly the same way is unrealistic. Let me share a personal example: I’m 6’5”, and when I had a trainer in high school, they insisted I perform exercises exactly as taught to others, despite my limitations in range of motion and flexibility. Instead of modifying the exercises to fit my body, I was simply told to try harder to do it “right.”

This one-size-fits-all approach didn’t work. Instead of improving my performance, it created frustration and hindered my progress.

Form Doesn’t Always Equal Function

Even if a patient appears to have perfect form, it doesn’t necessarily mean they’re achieving the intended goal of the exercise. Consider these examples:

• A patient performing side steps and monster walks to strengthen their hip abductors feels the exercise primarily in their quads, despite using “perfect form.”

• A patient stretching their hip flexors in perfect form only feels the stretch in their knee.

In such cases, sticking rigidly to a specific form can be counterproductive. Instead, adjusting the exercise to ensure it targets the desired muscles or movement patterns is more effective.

Pain and Compensation

Many patients experience pain inhibition, which prevents them from performing exercises correctly. As a result, they may have to compensate. Insisting on perfect form in these situations can exacerbate their pain or lead to further compensation patterns. Flexibility in approach is essential to work around their limitations and gradually improve their form as their condition allows.

Flexibility Leads to Better Outcomes

In my experience, it’s far more beneficial to approach each treatment with flexibility in mind. If you stick rigidly to a predetermined idea of “perfect form” for every patient, you risk hindering their progress. Instead, I recommend:

• Adjusting exercises to fit the individual rather than forcing the individual to fit the exercise.

• Prioritizing function over form by focusing on achieving the desired outcome, even if it requires modifications.

• Being open to variation based on the patient’s goals, comfort, and ability to tolerate certain movements.

Final Thoughts

This doesn’t mean that form doesn’t matter—of course, there are more effective ways to perform each exercise. However, the key is to tailor the exercise form to the individual, rather than forcing the individual to conform to a rigid standard of “perfect form.”

What are your thoughts? I'd love to hear different perspectives on this topic!