[kj] Thread attempt one: ex's back

[Brendan]

A lot of ppl are after tha 'best' ab exercise...I do a range of 10-15 or
so different exercises (most done on the floor with bodyweight or perhaps
a medicine ball for external resistance) over the course of a 3-month or
so program, also modifying the volume, intensity, prioritisation, and
tempo, along a continuum going from light, isolated, slow movements at the
beginning, to harder, quicker, more compound movements towards the end of
the program. A single exercise and single set / rep scheme is sub-optimal,
and will in fact lead to muslce imbalances over time.

The exercise you mention is an absolute killer, but it's a compromise. It
works the upper abs and hip flexors simultaneously, the nervous system is
also taxed initially because it has to learn a relatively complex movement
involving balancing the body while performing two different joint flexions
patterns...you're flexing the trunk and also flexing at the hip. But
because you're doing two joint movements simultaneously, there are some
advantages and some disadvantages. Mixed training = mixed results, as they
say. There is very little rotation, side flexion, and no real postural
recruitment. No exercise provides all that. Yoga and Pilates do however,
as performed undre a good teacher.

I just wrote a big spiel on ab training and back pain, lost it when I went
to put on some music on this PC, will re-do it sometime if anyone is
interested. Basically though, go to Pilates or Yoga because they are
great, I've done both and both have helped with back pain and more :) But
ab training is probably at most 25% of lower back injury prevention /
rehab...you also need to consider stretching, massage, posture, nutrition
/ hydration, assymetrical activities, mindset / stress, etc...


>   What are those situps called where you do a crunch while pulling your

> knees up

> to your stomach? Supposed to be the best thing ever...

>

>  

> ... ... ... ... ... ...

> (looking at the current state of things)

>

> 'Save me..                                                

>  save me from Tomorrow..                          

>  I don't want to sail in this Ship Of Fools...!'  

>

> --- On Wed, 7/16/08, folk devil <folkdevil_23 at hotmail.com> wrote:

>

> From: folk devil <folkdevil_23 at hotmail.com>

> Subject: Re: [kj] Thread attempt one: ex's back

> To: "A list about all things Killing Joke (the band!)"

> <gathering at misera.net>

> Date: Wednesday, July 16, 2008, 8:14 AM

>

>

>

>

> #yiv537169317 .hmmessage P

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> strengthen your abs first, otherwise your back is always going to give you

> grief..

>

>

>

>

>

> Date: Wed, 16 Jul 2008 01:56:50 -0400

> From: killingjoke at theimmortalfool.com

> To: gathering at misera.net

> Subject: Re: [kj] Thread attempt one: Poll

>

> Had back issues for a long long time. I did cut down on my biking since I

> started handball.

> Only did 20 miles today earlier (Had time off in the afternoon). Then

> handball at night for 1 hour.

>

>

>

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