RE: Why Crunches Don't Work

RE: Why Crunches Don't Work (Full Version)

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MsFlutter -> RE: Why Crunches Don't Work (6/6/2009 9:34:36 AM)
(am I losing my mind or did a couple postings fall off this thread?)

JonnieBoy -> RE: Why Crunches Don't Work (6/6/2009 9:42:27 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: stella41b Erm, what is a 'crunch'? Less fun than shagging. (which is very effective excercise) Pirate

deliciousmorsel -> RE: Why Crunches Don't Work (6/6/2009 5:40:08 PM)
Like most doctors this one has no freakin' clue- so that article is worthless! Where do you guys find this stuff? Some idiot got a grant and had to use it- just like the stupid orthopedist who spent 10 million to declare that weight belts offered no spine support? Every Sports Medicine doc, physiatrist, PT, and gym rat/ athlete in the country laughed and laughed! A weight belt isn't supposed to support the spine. It supports the big muscles in the core. Two different things. Similarly- A crunch and a sit up are two radically different things. A sit up will tear up your whole body, in fact I haven't seen one since a crummy elemantary school I was doomed to for two years. An actual crunch is a small movement done solely by contracting the abs. It's not at all dangerous and is the preferred form of core strength development by any trainer of strength coach with any decent credentials- and I do NOT mean some three day workshop. I mean Masters in Kinesiology. If it was dangerous or even difficult physical therapists wouldn't have back patients on the floor doing them. As a massive spine trouble sort myself, if I didn't catch a hundred a day to keep them going I'd have nothing to pull my S.I. joints and lower back together with and wouldn't be able to walk at all! What is he talking about- back arch? That's a hyperextension, which can be rough done improperly. But the man's descriptions don't jibe with anything I've seen in gyms over twenty five years. This is a pretty typical case of got a grant, gotta publish, even without a clue what I'm talking about. And y'all do need to get some exercise. As you age core strength helps with balance and posture and not having that fall and hip fracture. And I'm surprised you cyclists and riders aren't doing double crunchies- they'd help your form a lot. A rip or several in the stomach doesn't mean you're that strong in the core. Strengthing makes you better at your sport. If Lance does crunchies you can too. Twenty five years in gyms and on the road made me a masochist... Or is it the other way around?

HeavansKeeper -> RE: Why Crunches Don't Work (6/6/2009 9:01:34 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: lusciouslips19 A pike up on an exercise ball is way more effective, http://www.beginnertriathlete.com/cms/article-detail.asp?articleid=1118 If that is too difficult even just holding a push up position works better than a crunch. Google plank When my dog was just a wee pup, she had a favorite toy... A scooter ball; an inflatable ball with a horn on it, kids scoot around on them. Now, every time I bring home large spherical objects, she mounts them, circles them, flips them over... looking for the horn that "must be on the other side."

ignoreme -> RE: Why Crunches Don't Work (8/3/2009 4:31:19 PM)
Indeed, with sit-ups you mainly train your iliopsoas anyway instead of your abs, which can cause posture problems if other muscles aren't trained at the same time.

LafayetteLady -> RE: Why Crunches Don't Work (8/3/2009 7:15:38 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: deliciousmorsel Like most doctors this one has no freakin' clue- so that article is worthless! Where do you guys find this stuff? Some idiot got a grant and had to use it- just like the stupid orthopedist who spent 10 million to declare that weight belts offered no spine support? Every Sports Medicine doc, physiatrist, PT, and gym rat/ athlete in the country laughed and laughed! A weight belt isn't supposed to support the spine. It supports the big muscles in the core. Two different things. Similarly- A crunch and a sit up are two radically different things. A sit up will tear up your whole body, in fact I haven't seen one since a crummy elemantary school I was doomed to for two years. An actual crunch is a small movement done solely by contracting the abs. It's not at all dangerous and is the preferred form of core strength development by any trainer of strength coach with any decent credentials- and I do NOT mean some three day workshop. I mean Masters in Kinesiology. If it was dangerous or even difficult physical therapists wouldn't have back patients on the floor doing them. As a massive spine trouble sort myself, if I didn't catch a hundred a day to keep them going I'd have nothing to pull my S.I. joints and lower back together with and wouldn't be able to walk at all! What is he talking about- back arch? That's a hyperextension, which can be rough done improperly. But the man's descriptions don't jibe with anything I've seen in gyms over twenty five years. This is a pretty typical case of got a grant, gotta publish, even without a clue what I'm talking about. And y'all do need to get some exercise. As you age core strength helps with balance and posture and not having that fall and hip fracture. And I'm surprised you cyclists and riders aren't doing double crunchies- they'd help your form a lot. A rip or several in the stomach doesn't mean you're that strong in the core. Strengthing makes you better at your sport. If Lance does crunchies you can too. Twenty five years in gyms and on the road made me a masochist... Or is it the other way around? While you certainly seem to have some knowledge here, I suggest you look a bit beyond the bayou. There are a SIGNIFICANT number of sources who have advised AGAINST crunches and sit ups to patients with various types of back injuries. They have been advising against it for a number of years. Strengthening the muscles in the torso will help with lumbar/sacral spine injuries, however, it must be done in a way that DOES NOT put stress on that area of the spine at the same time, which is exactly what a crunch will do.

Arillis -> RE: Why Crunches Don't Work (8/5/2009 3:43:32 AM)
I pump a lot of iron, every day; run five miles every morning and three times a week swim at least that many miles. However, crunches are a necessary part of achieving cut and definition, do not underestimate them or any tried and proven techniques.

shadowowl -> RE: Why Crunches Don't Work (8/5/2009 10:14:43 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: deliciousmorsel Similarly- A crunch and a sit up are two radically different things. A sit up will tear up your whole body, in fact I haven't seen one since a crummy elemantary school I was doomed to for two years. An actual crunch is a small movement done solely by contracting the abs. It's not at all dangerous and is the preferred form of core strength development by any trainer of strength coach with any decent credentials- and I do NOT mean some three day workshop. I mean Masters in Kinesiology. If it was dangerous or even difficult physical therapists wouldn't have back patients on the floor doing them. As a massive spine trouble sort myself, if I didn't catch a hundred a day to keep them going I'd have nothing to pull my S.I. joints and lower back together with and wouldn't be able to walk at all! I'd second that sit ups are extinct no personal trainer or gym teacher with any knowledge would recomend them however crunches are awesome rather then relying on jerky momentum like a sit up you rely strickly on ab muscles to do all the work. They are hard to do though and definitily not something I enjoy but well worth it if you really want to get in shape. If you have spine problems then well crunches are out find an alternate method. All forms of exersise cause stress to body that's why most profesional athletes don't live past 70 with marathon runners having the lowest life expectancy. Everything in moderation and according to your own body needs :)

pyroaquatic -> RE: Why Crunches Don't Work (8/6/2009 2:10:01 PM)
Young and springy. Can't wait till I get older and fat. I don't do crunches at all, or sit ups. I watch what I eat and bike. Push-ups are good, as well as bondage for stretching.... I mean yoga. Yoga is good for stretching.

VanIsleKnight -> RE: Why Crunches Don't Work (8/7/2009 3:25:23 AM)
I'm lucky in that I've been blessed with a great metabolism. I don't honestly do that much exercise myself, though I used to do a fair amount when I was in kick boxing. Felt like I was going to collapse after getting that yellow belt but was I ever proud of it!

ITakeTheStairs -> RE: Why Crunches Don't Work (8/18/2009 12:42:32 AM)
Some people have the fight in them, some make excuses...

Starbuck09 -> RE: Why Crunches Don't Work (8/18/2009 7:36:46 AM)
If you want great abs then diet. All exercises strengthen your muscles but you can't do crunches and expect to get a six pack. Everyone already has one it's just covered [in most people by a layer of fat. The only way to get rid of that fat is to have a diet where you are losing fat. Do that and you'll have great abs. If you want them to be more defined then you can do more stomach exercise that target the abdomen.

DivineWill -> RE: Why Crunches Don't Work (8/18/2009 6:21:04 PM)
This article says you should avoid bending your back? But that's what abdominals do. He's recommending isometrics, i.e. holding the spine straight--which is generally bad. The problem with crunches is that they only work the upper abs-- which are naturally much weaker than the lower abs, and so it becomes a weak link that prevents you from training your lower abs effectively. Train your lower abs first--which will also work your uppers. Then do crunches.

Aanakaris -> RE: Why Crunches Don't Work (8/19/2009 5:04:24 AM)
A crunch is a partial sit-up where you stop in the contracted position without doing a full raise to the knees, then release. They are better for the back than sit-ups which can stress the spine. But like any excersize, alone they do not do much. I do a heavy core work out and still have a gut, but that's because I love food too much. The excersize keeps everything tone and in control. Those killer bodies you see on TV take alot of work and discipline to maintain. Better to be healthy and active and a little less concerned about perfection.

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