Movement naturally self-organizes based on an individual’s constraints, meaning athletes often develop techniques that work best for them. However, this isn’t always the case. However, movement technique is often modified to improve performance or reduce injury risk. Certainly, every individual has unique movement solutions shaped by their body, experiences, and constraints. There is no an ideal technique, so this raises a critical question:
When should we actually be concerned with technique changes?
Before making changes, we must first ensure that we are effectively measuring movement. Any evaluation should include objective assessments that allow us to analyze key factors relating to technique change: adaptability, efficiency, retention, injury risk, and movement economy. Without proper assessment, modifying technique can be unnecessary—or even detrimental.
Davids, Button, and Bennett (2005) in Dynamics of Skill Acquisition: A Constraint-Led Approach provide five key reasons for modifying technique:
✅ Poor adaptability – When an athlete struggles to transfer their movement across different environments.
🔹 A golfer unable to adjust their putting technique to different green speeds, leading to inconsistent performance.
✅ Inefficiency – When excessive energy is wasted.
🔹 A sprinter with an overly rigid running posture, causing unnecessary muscle tension and reduced speed.
✅ Poor retention – When technique does not persist over time.
🔹 A tennis player unable to maintain proper grip and stroke mechanics after a short break from training.
✅ High injury risk – When movement patterns contribute to frequent injuries.
🔹 A baseball pitcher with poor throwing mechanics leading to recurring shoulder injuries.
✅ Uneconomic movement – When posture or mechanics lead to unnecessary fatigue.
🔹 A cyclist riding in an inefficient upright posture, increasing air resistance and energy expenditure over long distances.
Because movement self-organizes, an athlete’s current technique might already be their optimal solution. That’s why assessment is key. Before modifying technique, athletes should be evaluated using motion analysis, force measurements, and task-specific evaluations. Without proper data, interventions may be misguided, and changes could do more harm than good.
Now, how should we change technique? That’s a different conversation—and simply telling an athlete to “move differently” is NOT the solution. In fact, that’s one of the least effective methods.
I’ll be discussing how to change technique effectively in an upcoming article. Stay tuned!
#MotorLearning #SkillAcquisition #SportsScience #InjuryPrevention #PerformanceOptimization #DataDrivenCoaching
