You’ve been hitting the gym consistently, following online workout videos, maybe even hired a trainer – but you’re still not seeing the results you want. If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone. But here’s the surprising truth that most fitness professionals won’t tell you: The problem might not be your dedication or effort – it could be that you’re building your fitness journey on a shaky foundation.
As a Kinesiologist with over 20 years of experience and published research in the International Journal of Exercise Science, I’ve seen countless motivated individuals struggle simply because they skipped one crucial first step: getting a proper movement assessment.
Think of it this way: Would you build a house without first checking the foundation? Of course not. Yet every day, people jump into intensive workout programs without understanding their body’s current movement patterns, strengths, and limitations.
A movement assessment, or biomechanical assessment, is like getting a detailed blueprint of your body’s current state. It reveals:
– Movement imbalances that could be limiting your progress
– Areas of weakness that need special attention
– Compensation patterns that might be setting you up for injury
– Your actual functional capacity (which might be different from what you assume)
Here’s why this matters:
- Hidden Compensations
Your body is incredibly adaptable. If one area is weak or restricted, other muscles will take over to get the job done. While this helps you function day-to-day, it can create problems when you start exercising. These compensations often mean you’re not targeting the muscles you think you are during workouts.
- Inappropriate Exercise Selection
Without knowing your movement baseline, you might be choosing exercises that are either too advanced or not challenging enough. This can lead to frustration, lack of progress, or worse – injury.
- Inefficient Training
You could be spending hours at the gym but working against your body’s natural movement patterns. This wastes time and energy while delivering suboptimal results.
- Risk of Injury
When you exercise without addressing underlying movement issues, you’re essentially reinforcing poor patterns. Over time, this can lead to chronic pain or injury.
Through my proprietary assessment system, The Kinesiogram™, I’ve helped countless clients break through plateaus and achieve results they never thought possible. One recent client, a 76-year-old man who had undergone four spine surgeries, was told by his family he was “done” with exercise. After a proper movement assessment and corrective exercise program, he’s now pain-free and working out effectively.
The solution isn’t necessarily to work harder – it’s to work smarter. A proper movement assessment helps create a roadmap specific to your body’s needs and capabilities. This individualized approach ensures that every workout builds upon a solid foundation, leading to better results and reduced risk of injury.
Common signs you might need a movement assessment:
– Plateauing despite consistent effort
– Recurring injuries or nagging pain
– Feeling like certain exercises never get easier
– Uneven strength or flexibility between sides of your body
– Difficulty maintaining proper form during exercises
Remember: Generic workout programs, even those claiming to be “customized” based on online questionnaires, can’t account for your unique movement patterns and needs. The only way to truly optimize your exercise program is to start with a thorough movement assessment.
Ready to stop wasting time and start seeing real results from your workouts? Visit michelebond.com and sign up for my mailing list to learn more about movement assessments and be notified about my upcoming online training community launching in early 2025. Let’s build your fitness journey on a foundation that’s designed for success.
