Exercise for abdomen

kathott
kathott Posts: 72 Member
edited September 24 in Fitness and Exercise
Does anyone out there know of a good exercise for abdomen that I could do with a very bad back? obviously situps are out....thanks:ohwell:

Replies

  • ashreywallace
    ashreywallace Posts: 3
    use a 5kg dumbell or medicine ball, lying on your back. Raise your legs on a 45 degree angle and move the dumbell from your left side to your right side 20 times x 5 reps
  • CommandaPanda
    CommandaPanda Posts: 451 Member
    Lookup the exercise "Flutter Kicks." I feel like that may be a better option, it's often used in military exercise circuits.

    Hopefully this resolves any exercise conflicts for you!
  • dancingnancies
    dancingnancies Posts: 255 Member
    i have a bad back too. some great exercises are planks (modified).

    go on your hands and knees and keep your back straight. slowly lift one arm and the opposite leg up (out and straight) and hold for about 10 seconds. then keep switching until you do 8 reps of each side.

    hope this helps! goodluck! :smile:
  • ItsOn130
    ItsOn130 Posts: 269 Member
    I'm not sure if this is the correct name of them.. but Cat/Cows... it's when you get on your hands and knees, arch your back up like a cat while pulling your navel up towards your back, then come out of that stretch and hang your belly with your back arched the other way now...
  • tjsusong
    tjsusong Posts: 195 Member
    I dont know if this will work for your back, but they're called squiggles. (I learned if from Jillian Michaels) Lie on your back with your palms facing inward. Bend to one side and touch your palm on the heel of your opposite heel (of the side you bent to), then go to the other side. If this doesnt make sense, google Jillian Michaels Squiggle. That should probably find it for you:) Good luck!
  • cacrat
    cacrat Posts: 336 Member
    I think like commandapanda said you're going to have to stick to anti-rotation ab exercises. Like the commandapanda said, flutter kicks, leg raises, etc. I'm not sure how well you're back is going to do with planks since you have to have a decent back to do those. Same thing with the side to side excercise that was mentioned as well, you'll need a decent back. Unfortunately you will run into problems with almost every ab exercise since the back is one of the antagonist muscles to the abs. Its like having strong quads but purposefully weak hamstrings, you're just bound to run into problems.
  • kathott
    kathott Posts: 72 Member
    Thanks for all of your ideas. I think I will definitely look into the Flutter kicks. I am afraid of rotation style exercises ....my back is bad and
    it doesn't take too much to set it off.
    Thanks again everyone!
  • kathott
    kathott Posts: 72 Member
    Hi...thanks for the suggestion. I am going to try this exercise as well as the flutter kicks. I appreciate your thoughts.Kathleen
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