A word on injuries...

They shouldn't happen in training!
Mike Boyle of michaelboyle.biz - who is one of the premier presenters for Perform Better and a great strength coach - got himself a huge number of negative responses when he made this statement in an article on T-nation.com

Why?

What about that statement could produce such ire and negativity? Do people really expect to get injured through training?

The answer - sadly - is yes. "If you push hard enough you are going to get injured" - goes the response. "Being afraid of getting injured will keep you weak and not progressing because you won't push hard enough" - goes another. So trainees push and struggle and when injuries happen - it is just a part of what they are trying to do. Not so - or at least it shouldn't be.

Now I will be the first to say that - yes, I have injured myself training - but that was when I was younger and not so wise. ;)
Seriously - it happened and I learned from it.

There are very few instances where you are getting paid to lift - and only the sports that are actually contested with a barbell can even accept the fact that they may get injured due to training (because it is all they do) - But athletes and people trying to get and/or stay fit have no reason to get injured doing something that is supposed to be improving their lives.

Athletes get paid to be on their field of competition - not be on the sideline because of a training injury - an injury should only come from competition for an athlete.

General fitness trainees - no injuries should be the goal - and if that means a lower 1rm or a couple fewer reps - so be it.

This is also where a balanced training approach comes into play - mobility, flexibility and screening for asymmetries should be a part of your routine.

So no injuries - allow yourself that much.