A couple of years ago some advertising on our behalf said “Sit-ups remain one of the best methods of reshaping the abdomen.” I panicked! We quickly called and had it changed because DO NOT EVER do sit ups! Other than making the rectus abdominis thicker they have no benefit to a stronger or sculpted core. We have around 850 muscles in the body and a good deal of them are core muscles whose main function is to stabilize the spine. The spinal flexion in sit-ups and crunches can be harmful to your low back because they compress the disks in your spine. Sit-ups and crunches essentially “crush” the disks between the bones in your spine, causing pain and nerve damage.
So what to do instead? Front planks and side planks and a lot of them! But make sure you use proper form or planks can also harm your back. Come in to FitMania on any Wednesday or Saturday, our core days, and try one of our core workouts. Come for 2 months and you will have the strongest core of your life!
NOW FOR YOUR RESEARCHING PLEASURE:
http://www.health.harvard.stfi.re/staying-healthy/want-a-stronger-core-skip-the-sit-ups?sf=vydezax
http://www.menshealth.stfi.re/fitness/why-crunches-situp-are-bad-for-your-back?sf=warjbov