Am I doing it wrong?
Is my lower back just too weak?
Should I be modifying the movement, or should I just stop?
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A strong core is important for supporting your whole body.
Yet for some people, doing basic bodyweight abs exercises can cause lower-back pain or discomfort.
you might’t do a sit-up without engaging both your abs and your back, right?
He adds that for some people, the back may tighten up enough to potentially cause a back spasm.
For many abs exercises, a small misstep in form can ask too much of your lower back.
Keep your lower back grounded.
The lower back needs to be anchored on the ground for the majority of abs work, Stokes says.
When it pops off the floor, you put your back in a vulnerable, hyperextended position.
Any pain is a sign you should stop what youre doing and reassess.
You want to stay in a pain-free zone no matter what, Giordano says.
Bottom line: If it doesnt feel good, dont do it, Stokes says.
Tucking the tailbone and keeping your back flat are crucial here.
For some people, basic anatomy makes that tucking position much harder.
Everyones spine is a little different.
He suggests avoiding full-range sit-ups and instead doing basic crunches.
Crunches done correctly are basically 1 inch up 1 inch down.
It forces you to stabilize your pelvis more.
You cant completely leave out rotation because you would have horrible flexibility.
What she suggestsand does herselfis to try rotational movements really slowly.
Concentrate on not moving your hips or swaying side to side, he says.
The number-one thing people should do is see to it have they that base core strength, Stokes says.
“The biggest thing is remembering its your core, not just your abs.”
There are some great ways to strengthen your core without putting unnecessary pressure on your lower back.
Rotational stability exercises are great, too, says Stahl (bird dog is one).
These exercises engage the core to fight resistance.
They strengthen your body’s ability to resist external forces that can cause injury.
Doing these exercises will strengthen your back and entire core along with decreasing overall injury potential, he says.
take a stab at flatten your low back to the ground.
Then slowly raise your legs back up to the starting position.
Multitasking is a beautiful thing.
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