Sit Ups irritate my Tailbone..

Nope, but if you figure it out, let me know.... that always happens to my husband, he has a semi permanent raw spot right on his tailbone...

I suggested to put Neosporin or Vaseline on it before doing sit-ups (kind of like how marathon runners put it on places where they get blisters/chafe) but I don’t know if it'll work, he hasn’t tried it yet...

Hmmm i get that too but its not my tail bone(i got lots of junk in my trunk to padd that area) but its my lower spine.... like right in the small of my back... i do situps on my bed... hurts less:laugh:

Have you tried to do situps on a mat or better yet a ball?

Get an aerobic/yoga ball to do your sit-ups on, it'll help lots! (and they seem to work better too!)

There is no point in lifting more than your shoulder blades off of the floor when you do "sit-ups" or crunches - in short, any kind of abdominal exercise where you lift your upper body from the floor.

I suggest leaving your lower body still, and think about drawing your lower abs tight against your spine while you lift just your head, shoulders and shoulder blades from the floor, in that order.

See if you can progress from level 1 to level 4:

1) Hands reaching toward knees.
2) Hands crossing chest (like a corpse)
3) Hands cupping shoulders (not crossing chest)
4) Hands cupping shoulders crossed BEHIND the head

And only do as many as you can before you start lifting your tailbone from the floor. If you can't control that anymore, you're not using your abs - you're using momentum.

Can you tell this to the Army?? :flowerforyou: :laugh:

Try this... put a broom handle on the ground.

Laying next to it so that it goes down your body, try to roll your body over it slowly.

Notice how you body will find the most natural, easiest path (be like water) over the broom handle to get to the other side.

Your tailbone is the same thing as the broom handle. You need to discover a way around it, and not directly over it.

For this to work properly, you need to perform slow situps at first to see when your movement approaches the bony area. You'll notice it by the level of discomfort increasing. If you continue, you'll apply direct pressure against your tailbone or other bony areas against the hard surface which can damage it if not done properly.

For now, practice sending your torso around to the left or to the right around the tailbone. Do this just enough to roll over soft tissue. Once you've cleared the obstacle (tailbone) you can recenter your movement forward and up. The easiest way to get by it is to turn your pelvis towards the direction you want your torso to go.

Going back down is the opposite.

This type of movement get's you from A to Z in the most efficient manner possible, with the least amount of effort. You may want exaggerate the movement at first while maintaining control.

Eventually, with practice you can indirectly go over the tailbone by controlling the tension in your core and in relationship to the rest of your body. Don't forget to breath calmly and smoothly.

Richard.

The best surface to do sit ups on is the hardest one you can find.

Your body quickly learns that incorrect breathing and movement leads to pain. Listen to you body. Move in a way that is comfortable against the real world, not plastic balls nor comfy mats. The real world isn't made that way.

Keep the body soft against hard surfaces and see what's up possible.,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FHcO9P7pe4g

Richard.

By the by........I have recently started using a piece of memory foam as a mat, with a 3 inch in diameter hole cut right out of the middle of it........keeps the old tailbone off everything.....before the mat, I used 2 large towels, folded up and placed them about 2 inches apart, just enough to allow my tailbone to NOT touch the floor......


There are a millions different things you can try....a doughnut ring, a dining room chair cushion with a hole cut out of it, anything you can think of......

You really should not do sit-ups or crunches, they weaken your spine and only serve to reinforce the movements that you do all day that damage your back rather than providing any support.

ABMAT SITUPS

I'll offer Planks…do planks and (variations of) core strength is more important than superficial abbs. Take up yoga or pilates and lift In the end you will do what ever the heck you want to do, enjoy :smile

I second the planks and offer hanging leg raises

Here's another endorsement for giving up sit-ups and doing other core exercise. Most people are already too tight in the front of their bodies, and could benefit much more by doing back bends and back strengthening exercises. Some exercise routines will stress working on the lats, because they are big, impressive, and pretty easy to work. But very few routines will focus on working the muscles that support the lumbar and thoracic spine.