Yesterday I a buttload of sit ups. While i was excercising i felt some minor back pain, nothing excruciating, so i ignored it.

Last night i didn't get a wink of sleep, my back was killing me. which leads to my question.

Whats the best alternative to sit ups?

dragonmax

United States131 Posts

January 23 2009 22:34 GMT

pushups

paper

13196 Posts

January 23 2009 22:35 GMT

crunches :D

thunk

United States6233 Posts

January 23 2009 22:38 GMT

If you're looking for abs, you could try planks. The real problem is that all muscles work in pairs, like bicep-tricep: one contracts and one extends. I think the problem is that when doing abs, I think the abs/back muscles are a pair so when your abs contract your back extends. I'd consult someone who knows more than me that's just non-expert knowledge.

Cloud

Sexico5880 Posts

January 23 2009 22:43 GMT

Warmup before exercise, cool down after. Dont exercise right after you ate.

LemOn

United Kingdom8629 Posts

January 23 2009 22:49 GMT

If done correctly they should not give you back pain.

do the version with your hands infront of you and slooooowly pull yourself only halfway up. Tense your abs and try to use only them for the sit up and you should not get back pains except for muscle tiredness experienced after any excercise

HamerD

United Kingdom1922 Posts

January 23 2009 23:04 GMT

poor technique. You need to focus on a point like above and forwards from you, and keep your neck straight and your head pointing towards it. Don't bend your neck/back round a crunch, just come up and down in the same position.

IzzyCraft

United States4487 Posts

January 23 2009 23:08 GMT

lay on your back and lift of your legs sepereate them put them back togheter and then back down in 3 sec intervults from each movement.

Then do crunches to work the rest of the abs don't need to go all the way up. You could always do crunches lifting your legs to you while you hang from a door ceal or something.

poilord

Germany3252 Posts

January 23 2009 23:18 GMT

On January 24 2009 07:35 paper wrote:
crunches :D

this.

Don't try to raise your whole back off the ground when doing situps, this can lead to serious back problems. If you do stomach exercises on a regular basis you should consider doing some back exercises as a form of counter-weight, too.

besiger

Croatia2452 Posts

January 23 2009 23:24 GMT

#10

just do crunches correctly, it should be no problem, make sure you dont do them fast, and dont raise your body all the way up, best way is to just lie down, and not curl your torso forwards, but just lift it up towards the sky with your abdominal muscles, while keeping the rest of your body stationary.

Im not sure i can explain this, so just take a look at this

infinity21

Canada6683 Posts

January 23 2009 23:27 GMT

#11

It's probably because you're not used to working that muscle group. Let your back heal and then do them in the proper form.

SayaSP

Laos5494 Posts

January 24 2009 00:06 GMT

#12

On January 24 2009 07:35 paper wrote:
crunches :D

I wanna crunch u paper

MuR)Ernu

Finland768 Posts

January 24 2009 00:24 GMT

#13

On January 24 2009 07:34 dragonmax wrote:
pushups

rofl.

paper

13196 Posts

January 24 2009 00:25 GMT

#14

DROP DAT SHIT SAYA ES PEE!

gg_hertzz

2152 Posts

January 24 2009 00:27 GMT

#15

thanks for starting this thread. i notice recenty that i can't sit up at all actually. it's physically impossible for me. i'm not fat or anything, maybe a longer torso. but i can only do half situps. wonder if i have a weak core or something.

JohnColtrane

Australia4813 Posts

January 24 2009 00:40 GMT

#16

grip the front poles with your hands and have your forearms rest on the pads. support yourself, and either bring your knees up towards your chest, or keep your legs straight and move them from your hip joint so you legs and body form a 90 degree angle

you dont bend your back so it seems alot less risky

Deleted User 3420

24492 Posts

January 24 2009 03:34 GMT

#17

crunches or leg lifts

crunches for upper abs, leg raises for lower abs

Krohm

Canada1857 Posts

January 24 2009 03:58 GMT

#18

On January 24 2009 12:34 travis wrote:
crunches or leg lifts

crunches for upper abs, leg raises for lower abs

These are both better than sit ups.

Try raising your legs while laying on your back. Keep them straight, and close to the ground. See how long you can do it haha its a nice little endurance test.