03/27/2026
Health care hot take of the day (caution longer than my Sumo squats aren't real hot take): The NO MOVEMENT IS BAD trend is kinda garbage.
One of the new buzzwords in exercise/PT/wellness circles is that no movement is inherently wrong or bad, and anyone telling you avoid them is wrong. Though in a vacuum this might, and I mean might be technically true, I do not find it to be true in clinical practice. The reality: our modern/Western lives which are much more sedentary and repetitive than in times and cultures past. This seems to predisposed us to certain movement patterns which for many are dysfunctional leading to pain and injury.
What does this mean? Most people, especially people who exhibit symptoms like back pain, knee pain, shoulder pain, etc. probably need to avoid certain movements at least until they have enough symmetry and stability to not have symptoms like pain, weakness, or tingling. At that point are people free to move as they want? In theory yes, but most often, people will return to those very same dysfunctional or perhaps less-than-optimal patterns of movement and posture that caused the pain to begin with. This is why you so often see people reinjure the same problem over and over again. They've healed from the injury, but they haven't gotten to the root of the problem. Imagine pulling only the top of the w**d but being surprised when it pops back up a week later.
What does this mean? In my opinion, some movements are lots of squeeze, tiny but of juice for MOST (not all) people. And an understanding of which movements, exercises, and activities are good for you and which aren't is a vital aspect you need for you long-term fitness, functionality, and musculoskeletal health. Is this as empowering as "NO MOVEMENT IS BAD, YOU DO YOU GIRL"? No. It isn't. But is it closer to the clinical reality I see everyday? Yeah. It is.
