Leg lifts and sit-ups.

[Shotokan-kez]

Just wondering i heard that when you lie on your back and lift you legs off the ground a little and hold them there that it can be bad for you? I can't remember the reason that this person said but he did say it's not very good for you because it puts to much strain on your body. I have always done this exercise because i think it strengthens my tummy muscles (which are very good).

Also the other one he didnt reccommend are half sit up's. Just lifting your head and top half of the body but not doing a complete sit-up. I think the leg lifts concentrate and the bottom half of your tummy and the sit-ups at the top. The only thing i have a little difficulty with is getting comfortable while lying on your back.

Any idea's on this guys?

Kez x

[JackCrevalle]

Never heard anything bad about leg lifts but he has the sit up thing backwards.

Traditional sit ups don't work the stomach muscles as much as crunches and can be bad for your back.

[blackxpress]

Leg lifts can strain your lower back if you don't do them properly. The proper way to do them is to place your hands under your buttocks and lift your head off the floor. That puts most of the strain on your abs where you want it to be. Traditional situps are bad for your lower back because they use the lower back muscles to get your head and shoulders off the floor. Crunches work the abs without straining the lower back.

[Rateh]

Even doing them properly as blackxpress said, it always hurts my lower back a lot. I never choose to do leg lifts, only ever do them if the karate instructor has us do it. It's supposed to help with stomach muscles, but my stomach muscles never hurt, only my lower back hurts a lot.

[bushido_man96]

Leg lifts can strain your lower back if you don't do them properly. The proper way to do them is to place your hands under your buttocks and lift your head off the floor. That puts most of the strain on your abs where you want it to be. Traditional situps are bad for your lower back because they use the lower back muscles to get your head and shoulders off the floor. Crunches work the abs without straining the lower back.

This is similar to what I have heard. However, lifting the head off of the floor for the leg lifts is different. Crunches are better than sit-ups as well. I'm not sure why, but for some reason the Army still uses the sit-up in their physical testings. I wonder why they don't use the crunch?

[Shotokan-kez]

Thanks for all that info guys. I never get pain when i do either of the exercises but i just wanted to get things clarified on what i heard. When we do the leg lifts in class the instructor always says to lift the head slightly, but doing it that way i find more difficult.

[blackxpress]

" Crunches are better than sit-ups as well. I'm not sure why, but for some reason the Army still uses the sit-up in their physical testings. I wonder why they don't use the crunch?"

There's the right way, the wrong way, and the Army way. We did hundreds of sit-ups and leg lifts (from a lying flat position) when I was in Navy boot camp. It's a wonder any of us can stand up straight.

[bushido_man96]

" Crunches are better than sit-ups as well. I'm not sure why, but for some reason the Army still uses the sit-up in their physical testings. I wonder why they don't use the crunch?"

There's the right way, the wrong way, and the Army way. We did hundreds of sit-ups and leg lifts (from a lying flat position) when I was in Navy boot camp. It's a wonder any of us can stand up straight.

I guess they do it because they can?? I have a buddy who was a Reserve; I'll see what he thinks about it.