Do Abdominal Ball Crunches Instead of Situps

on 3/13/2008 by MyFitnessHut | filed in: Strength Training
There is a correct way to do situps but most people are not familiar with the technique. The hip flexor muscles are preferentially recruited to do much of the work during incorrect execution of situps. This often leads to muscle imbalances and low back pain. Because of the injury potential from doing situps, you are better off finding safer abdominal exercises like ball crunches. You will get a greater range of motion and more muscle activation when doing ball crunches.

Tags  situps, ball crunches, hip flexor, low back pain, abdominal exercises
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bekafearless bekafearless
April 22, 2009
4:49 PM
i love doing crunches with the ab ball :) otherwise my back starts to hurt during sit-ups.

davegleason davegleason
August 21, 2008
1:59 AM
Great tip! Technique is everything. So much of the compression in the lower lumbar is incorrectly falling back down instead of "unrolling" one vertebrae at a time. They should do sit ups when they are taught correctly and there will never be low back discomfort. Nice job!

 
MyFitnessHut MyFitnessHut August 21, 2008  5:03 AM
Thanks for the comment Dave! Hopefully the word is getting out there about situps.

crista crista
March 16, 2008
1:47 AM
nice tip Mark...when I was in the military my lower back always hurt, because of the sit-ups I had to do. Not until after I started teaching pilates did I learn proper technique, and now a few year later I can do a proper sit-up. I never have my clients do sit-ups! Again do info for others :)

ryan ryan
March 13, 2008
7:20 PM
I've been meaning to post a tip similar to this. Thank god there's someone out there who realizes that crunching your ab muscles works your stomach better than bending at your waist (sit ups) which uses mostly your hip flexors. Anyone who is trying to work their abs, definitely save this tip.


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