How can I tell if I’m doing strength-training exercises correctly?

BY: Michael Castleman

“The best way is to work with a trainer certified by the National Strength and Conditioning Association [NSCA]” says Gregory G. Haff, who holds a doctorate in exercise physiology and is an assistant professor at the West Virginia University School of Medicine.

Friends and gym denizens may assure you that you’re doing strength-training exercises correctly if you feel the workout in the target muscle group, if that muscle group feels fatigued at the end of a reasonable workout, or if you experience mild soreness a day or two after increasing the weight or number of repetitions. But this is a myth. These results can occur even if you do strength-training exercises incorrectly, explains Haff.

So if you really want to make sure you’re getting the most out of your strength-training workout, consider a few sessions with an NSCA-certified trainer. You can find one using the personal trainer locator on the NSCA’s website -- or check out one of their free online videos, which demonstrate the correct way to perform a variety of different strength-training exercises.