Contraindicated Exercises
The fitness industry has made significant advancements in using research to improve the biomechanics of lifting and to prevent imbalances by connecting motion segments to optimize coordinated efforts in sports and in life. For knowledgeable exercise professionals the traditional approach of body part isolation using “3 sets of 10” has faded in light of programming for purpose using stress specific exercise techniques. Of interesting however is that with all this new knowledge common biomechanical errors still exist and are performed in fitness centers everyday throughout America.
Likely, some of the most common errors that exist include actions at the shoulders and low back during pulls and presses, knee translation and pelvic instability during hip and knee flexion and excessive recruitment of the hip flexors during abdominal exercises. The usual reasons behind poor lifting technique is exercisers receive incorrect instruction or copy what they see in the gym, or movement compensation occurs due to weakness along the kinetic chain. When force couples fail to exceed the resistive stress along the movement plane other biomechanical actions are used to create momentum to accommodate the movement range of motion.
In many cases these problems can be corrected by a few simple adjustments or adjuncts to the current training program. The first step is to evaluate the problem and identify what is incorrect and why. If it is a simple technique error and muscle strength/balance and flexibility are not contributing factors the correction is easy. Switching the lat pull-down from behind the head to in front is an easy adjustment that improves recruitment while reducing risk of injury. If though, the biomechanics are altered due to musculoskeletal issues, additional strategies must be utilized. Loss of pelvic stability during squatting and leg pressing is a common example of this issue.
Regardless of the problem, there exists a solution and for the most part the first step is focus on the movement efficiency. This means reducing the stress applied during the movement. In most cases this lowering or removing of the weight allows for a better neuromuscular learning environment. Although ego seems to be a very influential factor when it comes to resistance training it is an anchor to the adaptation progress. Exercisers need to understand that it is the quality of the movement that is most influential not the total load moved. For instance, recruiting your back extensors to perform a heavy lat pull-down does not increase recruitment in the intended muscle. Actually, it often reduces it below perceived overload due to changes in localized tension and time under stress, which is counterintuitive. Many people spend many hours in the gym with little return. Exercise without overload is simple a process of heat generation.
The following exercise has been deemed contraindicated as it presents more risk than reward. For the exercise a modification exists that reduces the risk for injury while maintaining or increasing the effectiveness of the movement for the desired results.
Lat Pull-down behind the Head
Problem: Heightened risk of cervical injury; reduced latissimus dorsi activation.
Correction: Neutral spinal position, depress and adduct scapula pulling the bar to the top of the sternum. Avoid premature arm flexion and changes in hip angle to prevent momentum.
Several research studies have indicated that the pull–up to the front and lat pull-down to the front exceed the latissimus dorsi muscle activation of the behind the head lat pull-down. Additionally, the glenohumaral position is maintained in a more desirable position throughout the exercise.
