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The Big Ball

erin4ever1990 Posts: 266 Joined: 2001/06/25	2001/08/22, 05:34 PM lol...Okay, have any of you tried crunches on those big rubber balls? I have heard it helps you to isolate the lower ab muscles, preventing you from using your back. Any opinions on this?
merlinhog Posts: 213 Joined: 2001/04/23	2001/08/22, 06:44 PM Haven't tried but a lot of people in the gym I go to use them religiously. They are good for stretching the low back and abs and crunches can be done. It looks a little difficult doing crunches though. I stick to the old skool sit ups. Give it a try though.
erin4ever1990 Posts: 266 Joined: 2001/06/25	2001/08/23, 12:42 AM My problem is that everytime I do them it hurts my lower back. Most of the lower ab exercises do. I am just trying to find something that will aleviate that back pain.
coolness Posts: 338 Joined: 2001/05/23	2001/08/23, 07:10 AM My son has one of those; I should try stretching my back on it. Good idea!! Think I'll stick to the old way for crunches too. Sounds kind of awkward. coolness...
the_w8lifter Posts: 138 Joined: 2001/08/03	2001/08/23, 08:45 AM Recent scientific reports indicate that the "ball crunch" is much more effective than traditional crunches. This is for two reasons. 1) The greater range of motion works the entire abs (not just the lower abs) and 2) The ball requires an individual to balance themselves at all times using the mid section. This combination offers an excellent method of working the abs. If your lower back is hurting, alternate days of lower back and abs. Lower back pain can generally be attributed to having abs that are TOO strong. What I mean is that you need balance in your midsection. I use the ball for a variety of exercise from dumbbell flys to arnold presses. Again, it requires stabilization at all times.
laico Posts: 6 Joined: 2001/09/24	2001/09/24, 04:49 PM I like the ball crunch better myself, cause it relieves some of the pain off of my back. It works mostly the lower and middle abs. It may be hard to gain your balance at first but its worth it in the end. Give it a try. Laico
bicep Posts: 315 Joined: 2001/01/26	2001/08/23, 04:39 PM I USE IT AND I THINK IT`S GREAT ..... NO PRESSURE ON MY LOWER BACK
erin4ever1990 Posts: 266 Joined: 2001/06/25	2001/08/23, 10:58 PM Great, I think I will go buy one.
tt_rocker Posts: 389 Joined: 2001/01/25	2001/08/30, 02:20 PM try alternating between the regular crunches and those with the ball... variation is the key in all exercises
INTRUDER Posts: 642 Joined: 2002/06/27	2005/11/11, 07:12 PM yes-they are GR8' Really important for get-n that full range of muscle use. -------------- "Get everthing you want--just make a little change now" "The thing you have to realize is that you have to work for it,"
wrestler125 Posts: 4,619 Joined: 2004/01/27	2005/11/11, 09:44 PM I'd really appreciate it if you guys stopped talking ab the abs as if they can be seperated. Seperating "lower abs" and "upper abs" for isolation is like seperating brachialis and biceps. You can't work one without the other. There are no "lower ab" exercises, only abdominal exercises. The reason swiss ball crunches are effective is because the rectus abdominus muscles are best worked through a rangeof motion with a 15 degree spinal flexion. So lying flat on the ground isn't enough, you have to get more of a stretch on your abdominals. Lower back pain can be cause by weak hip flexors, basicly trying to pull yourself up without the use of your hip flexors because your abdominals are so much stronger than the hip flexors. So w8lifter is sort of correct... If your abs are too strong for your hip flexors, causing a muscular imbalance, you may experiance discomfort in your lower back. -------------- The Edge... there is no honest way to explain it because the only people who really know where it is are the ones who have gone over. ~~~Hunter S. Thompson If you smoke or don’t wear your seatbelt, please don’t tell me the deadlift is dangerous.
wrestler125 Posts: 4,619 Joined: 2004/01/27	2005/11/11, 09:45 PM wow, i just realized this post is over 4 years old. No wonder I didn't see it before. -------------- The Edge... there is no honest way to explain it because the only people who really know where it is are the ones who have gone over. ~~~Hunter S. Thompson If you smoke or don’t wear your seatbelt, please don’t tell me the deadlift is dangerous.
INTRUDER Posts: 642 Joined: 2002/06/27	2006/01/08, 01:49 AM Oh yeah, its called the swiss ball':) -------------- "Get everthing you want--just make a little change now" "The thing you have to realize is that you have to work for it,"