sit ups -am I doing something wrong?

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nickorette

0
Recently whenever I've been doing sit ups, I've kind of gotten a bunch of negative pressure on my lower back. It's not really painfull, but its uncomfotable and my body doesn't like it, put it that way. It kind of feels like if you sat wrong in a bad chair for too long, just all at once.

Anyhow, for my form, I have my legs around 90 degrees, and I just have a pillow under my tailbone, since the floor I'm on is pretty hard. Any idea what I might be doing wrong/what's happening?
 
I used to be in the Army and we used to do as many sit ups as we can in 2 min, I swear it i could hear my back "popping" anyway, older and wiser, I switch to swiss ball crunches, which work better for me.

Try switching to swiss ball crunches.
 
All of the above is why I'd never advocate sit-ups. I don't know about everyone else, but that's just unnecessary lower back stress to me. I'm with MellowGAman - Swiss Ball Crunch (or Google for numerous other ab exercises).
 
you guys have any recomendations of good ab exercises that don't require equipment? I've been doing planks and leg raises as well as the sit ups so far.

Maybe I could continue with sit-ups, just each one would be a set, like I'd sit up, and just hold at the peak tension point or something untill my strength gives out.
 
Sit-ups do not put excess strain on the lower back when done properly. Most people end up not using abs to stabilize the spine. That is a technique flaw, not a flaw in the exercise.

You will end up having to do other exercises until your abs are strong enough and you understand how to use your abdominal muscles to stabilize your spine.
 
Hmm, I have never noticed that when I did sit ups, but I am more of an ab wheel man. Try to keep you center of gravity focused and use noting but abs, no momentum or back and it should straighten out.
 
I did incline sit ups last night at the gym, they seemed pretty effective and my obliques were sticking out like never before!
 
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