Sit-ups Redefined by By Fred Koch, Robert
K. Blom, R.P.T., Vidar Jacob, R.P.T. (Norway)
Did you ever notice how all-abdominal training articles are the
same. The only new element is the models and how good their abs
look. You could probably pick the top 3 exercises and find them
described in every article, in one variation or another. But, is
this all there is? We are now going to share some startling information
with you. Many abdominal exercises are just not working the abdominals
the way you think they do, for two simple reasons. An effective
abdominal exercise:
- Must bend the spine in it's full range of motion,
- While contracting the abdominal muscles from full extension
to full flexion.
Ask yourself this question. Why are you doing crunches for your
abs? We will repeat the question. Why are you doing crunches for
your abs? Do any of you really know why? We do squats for legs,
bench presses for chest, and rowing movements for back. These are
all compound exercises. But why are we doing crunches for our abs,
when we know it is not a compound exercise. If a compound exercise
done properly is so good for every other body part, then what is
the problem with sit-ups? The reason is, 20 years ago some experts
said that they were bad for your back. Did anyone ever stop and
ask if that was true, or why?
Keep in mind that for year's people had criticized squats by saying
they were dangerous for the back and knees. But there were no way
athletes, bodybuilders and powerlifters were going to stop doing
squats, because they knew the benefits far outweighed the risks.
So what did they do? They went in, analyzed the movement and tried
to get it right bio-mechanically. And they did. Unfortunately, seemingly
simple "sit-ups" were not evaluated with the same open
but critical eye. It was a lot easier to just let the critics tell
us sit-ups were bad for the back and that we should do crunches.
When first asking questions about the crunch or sit-up, we should
start with a clear and correct definition of what the abdominal
muscles do. The abdominal muscles (talking about the abdominals
that flex the spine) are attached to the rib cage and the pelvis.
No news there. When they contract, working together, they bend the
spine from full extension of the spine to full flexion of the spine.
What was left out of this statement is exactly what "full extension"
and "full flexion" means. Full extension of the abdominals
is not achieved when the back is flat on the floor, but rather when
the spine is arched back or extended 15-30°, a position that
the flat floor does not allow. Full flexion of the abdominals occurs
when the lower back comes off the floor. This is not possible with
a crunch. (See Figures 1,1a, 2,2a)
Full contraction of the abdominals means the abdominal muscles
shorten from maximal length to minimum length, bending the spine.
What was not understood until now is that this includes the pivot
points of the exercise moving down the spine and ending in the pelvis.
For full flexion to occur, the back must come off the floor as seen
in the sit-up redefined. The redefined sit-up, like the bench press,
or squat, is therefore a compound exercise using more than one joint.
If you look at figures 2, 2a, you can see this. Full contraction
of the abdominals can only happen 1) when contraction begins with
the spine fully extended and 2) when the pivot point slides downward
toward the pelvis on the spine during the movement. Neither of these
requirements is fulfilled during a crunch. So, you now have the
two missing pieces of the abdominal mystery, full extension of the
spine and a sliding fulcrum, or pivot point. For any workout to
completely work the abdominals these two ingredients must be present.
The Crunch
Let's first take a look at the crunch. In the beginning of the
exercise you must bend and raise your legs to set your back on the
flat floor. This movement shortens the abdominals from their naturally
stretched position before the movement even begins. If you look
at figure 3a, you will also see that the pelvis is also tilted,
further shortening the abdominals. This starting position will never
allow the abdominals to contract in a full range of motion.
The Old Sit-Up
Now we can go back to the old sit-up. The movement of the trunk
area is so complex that it encourages numerous forms of "cheating."
So it is important that we examine the sit-up movement with a more
critical eye. (Figure 4)
When this old exercise was performed it was usually done with the
thought in your mind " how many reps can I do?" This quickly
became "how many times can I get my head to my knees".
Not, " I want to use a sit-up to maximally overload my abdominals
in a full range of motion". The easiest way to do this is a
dynamic head to knee movement with the feet anchored. Being efficient,
the body instantly determines what muscles are going to be used
in the movement, which ones are strong, which ones are weak. Thus
how does the body make us do that sit-up? The first thing it does
is create momentum by starting the head moving with a snap. This
starts the upward and forward movement (figures 4a, 4b).
Now the momentum is immediately picked up by the hip flexors. They
begin contraction with the spine already partially flexed. The abdominals
are forced into an isometric contraction, never really dynamically
contracting under a load. By the time the sit-up reaches the stage
the abdominals and
internal obliques should be most active at the end of the movement,
so much momentum has been built up from this swinging that the workload
is continued by the hip flexors. Momentum built up at the start
of the movement eliminates the loading of the abdominals by forcing
them to do an isometric contraction. Keep in mind the starting position
was from a flat floor, so the movement began wrong. The abdominals
were not working through a full range of motion and not allowing
the spine to flex properly. (See figures 4a, 4b, 4c)
The following reps are even easier because the momentum from the
downward movement increases the snap and momentum increases for
the next rep (the so-called stretch reflex is brought into play).
The body will, of course let the stronger muscles do the work. The
hip flexors will continue to function as prime movers as long as
the weaker abdominals can hold the isometric contraction. This whole
fiasco usually ends when the abdominal muscles can no longer hold
the isometric contraction. You feel a burn due to the isometric
contraction of the abdominals trying to hold the spine stable while
the hip flexors perform the movement. This improper form could have
been the main reason so many people had back pain, due to the pulling
on the spine by the hip flexor muscles.
Sit-up redefined
Let us now examine the Sit-up redefined. To do the correct movement
lay flat on your back with an AbMat™ or rolled up towel under
your lower back. (An improper device will not give the proper support)
Bend the knees about 45° with heals on the floor. The feet should
not be held down or anchored and the knees are spread apart to further
reduce the use of the hip flexors. (See figure 5)
Put your hands between your legs. This will help you find the proper
form from the beginning. Now, remember that the sole goal of the
movement is to overload the abdominal muscles. Do not throw your
head toward your knees. Concentrate on the origin of the abs at
bottom of the rib cage.
- Start the curling of the spine movement by contracting the
abdominals (external obliques and rectus abdominus) pulling you
over the AbMat™.
- The rectus now takes over the entire load as you reach the
old crunch position and continue the curling movement. You will
notice the focus of the exercise now changes to the pelvic area.
- The lower internal obliques begin to help the abdominals to
complete the final few degrees of spinal flexion. During this
last part of the movement you will feel the AbMat™ supporting
your lower back. We have found this support from the AbMat™ is
"essential" in doing the movement correctly.
- You reach the end of this exercise when the hip flexors take
over the work from the abdominals. When you lay down just reverse
the movement. You are now working through almost twice the range
of motion of the old crunch and with more overload to your abdominals.
(See figures 5, 5a, 5b, 5c.)
Breathing during the exercise: Be sure to inhale at the beginning
of the exercise and exhale as you are performing the sit-up.
When you use the AbMat™ for this exercise you notice how the back
is extended in the beginning. This is a position you cannot take
on a flat floor. In this position the abdominal muscles are fully
stretched and ready for full contraction. You will now be able to
work the abdominal muscles through a full range of motion almost
doubling what could be achieved in a crunch. You will immediately
feel the extra load place on the abdominals when worked by the redefined
sit-up.
Figures 7, 7a, 7b, 7c, 7d, will help you understand the movement
of the spine and pelvis through the sit-up.
In this introductory article we have opened a new door to abdominal
training. It is only the beginning. As you go through the other
areas of this site we will present you with other new facts on abdominal
training. We will continue to add more and more information in the
future.
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