 [ Symptoms ] i have seizure like events [ Disease ] most people agree that proper form during lifting is important but data to prove that proper form will prevent injuries or improve performance does not exist in the american college of sports medicine position statement progression models in resistance training for healthy adults  it is written it is important to note that proper technique is used for any exercise velocity in order to reduce any risk of injury  but no research is provided to back up this statement there is another factor to consider when thinking about form that is if proper form were to be proven effective for injury prevention and performance improvement what would the form look like for instance during biceps curls you are supposed to stand up straight and keep your shoulders back and weightlifting books contain suggestions like sitting up straight and relaxing your shoulders when doing leg extensions but so little of this advice is evidence based that it is questionable if it should be recommended universally perhaps more important is the fact that we all have different anatomy and biomechanics and so our bodies move differently when doing all sorts of activities no one not even professional athletes throws a baseball exactly the same or swings a golf club the same or serves a tennis ball the same and so why should weightlifting be any different this is not to say that one should be reckless when lifting but perhaps there is more to injury prevention than just proper form the consensus amongst strength training professionals is that many weightlifting injuries are due directly to individuals who lift aggressively with weight that is too heavy for their musculoskeletal system and that improper form is only indirectly the culprit for instance if an individual is performing biceps curls with weight that is so heavy that they must lean way back to cheat the dumbbells up then they might put tremendous strain on the lower back and end up injuring a vertebral disc or straining a lumbar muscle the poor form may have put the body in a position of weakness and vulnerability but it was the excess weight that was the root of the problem here are some simple tips to keep in mind when weightlifting for beginners 1 select weights that you can comfortably lift 12 15 times to fatigue as the months go by and you get stronger you can progress to heavier weights and fewer reps 8 to 12 2 select simple exercises that target specific muscle groups and require less skill and coordination than complex multi joint exercises like squats lunges power lifts and dead lifts for example seated leg extensions might be a better choice than giant lunges across the gym until you feel comfortable with your skill for everyone 1 stop lifting if you feel strain in a joint burning in the belly middle of the muscle is okay 2 listen to your body this is critical focus on the muscle group that you are working