Proper way to do a Sit up or Crunch?

JennaBunny143
JennaBunny143 Posts: 14 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
Can someone please tell me how to properly do a situp or crunch? Or your opinion? I'm so confused and I don't want to injure my lower back or anything for that matter but I need to get this under control. Thanks :)

Replies

  • alexrichaa
    alexrichaa Posts: 37
    I used to hurt my neck doing sit ups u but I had an amazing trainer once who told me to imagine a rope pulling me up from my abs and every time after that i never got neck pain i just focused on that rope which always pulled my body up first rather than having to strain my neck to get up x
  • karrielynn80
    karrielynn80 Posts: 395 Member
    ^ agreed. I just focus on pulling with the ab section i'm trying to work, and all the rest of my body seems to rest comfortably at that point. also work on keeping your back - neck straight; don't curve either too much - imagine a pole down ur back ...
  • TTHdred
    TTHdred Posts: 380 Member
    Imagine a straight line from your lower back to the top of your head (means straight neck). Chin up and lift using your abs. Don’t worry about height until you build your core muscles strong enough to lift you. If you have your hands behind your head, they should be barely touching, just enough to keep the neck aligned but you should not be pulling with your hands. Some trainers recommend putting the hands out or across your chest first. It is easier but focuses on using your core rather than back or neck. I would also suggest doing them slowly at first to focus on form.

    Personally, I think that core strengthening workouts are more effective for your abs (and building your ability to do sit-ups). Planks are good or standing crunches (P90x calls them steam engines) are good.

    Here is a good video found online.

    http://on.aol.com/video/the-correct-way-to-do-sit-ups-517412281
  • wildchild06241
    wildchild06241 Posts: 130 Member
    My trainer has me do mine with a half ball (not sure what it's called). My back rests on the round part as I go down. Anyone understand what I'm saying?
  • loril13
    loril13 Posts: 320 Member
    My trainer has me put my hands by my ears rather than behind my head. Keeps me from creating a basket for my head and straining my neck. It also has my arms in a better placement for doing oblique twists than if I cross my arms across my chest.

    I love the idea of envisioning a steel pole as my spine keeping me straight from my neck all the way to my tailbone. Thanks!
  • karrielynn80
    karrielynn80 Posts: 395 Member
    My trainer has me put my hands by my ears rather than behind my head. Keeps me from creating a basket for my head and straining my neck. It also has my arms in a better placement for doing oblique twists than if I cross my arms across my chest.

    I love the idea of envisioning a steel pole as my spine keeping me straight from my neck all the way to my tailbone. Thanks!

    Thanks! I focus on having "good posture" a lot while working out & it seems to fix any "form" issues I might have.

    Another good point (or 2 actually) is to make sure a) you are exhaling at the point when you should be "using" your abs and 2) place your hands on your abs every so often and make sure you can FEEL them activating. ;)

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