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Sit-ups and arm muscles.. a problem - May 1 2008 15:25:37
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requiem
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Hi.
I've been doing sit-ups pretty regularily every night for the past two months or so. Everything is fine where my abdominal muscles are concerned but my right arm feels tight, tired and restrictive afterwards for up to a day, and is becoming slightly more toned and muscular than my left little by little. I've crossed my arms across my chest and held my right bicep with my left hand and it isn't straining as I complete a sit-up. Does anyone have any clue as to what is going on? I don't want to build any muscles in my arms at all.
Thanks.
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RE: Sit-ups and arm muscles.. a problem - May 1 2008 15:33:22
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facelikearobbersdog
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hmm...
Your probably tensing it every sit up.
Charles Atlas swears by it! 
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RE: Sit-ups and arm muscles.. a problem - May 1 2008 15:38:09
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requiem
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and would this tensing create muscle definition in my arm? how can i avoid tensing it?
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RE: Sit-ups and arm muscles.. a problem - May 1 2008 15:45:00
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facelikearobbersdog
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I think it would create definition over time.
Charles Atlas contributed a whole system to dynamic tension (google it)
When you cross your arms make sure each hand touches the opposing shoulder/trap section - that should remove the tension.
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RE: Sit-ups and arm muscles.. a problem - May 1 2008 15:47:49
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requiem
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I'll give that a go, thank you. One more question... Would placing my hands at the back of my head/temples be better than crossing them across my chest for this tension problem? Thanks for your help.
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RE: Sit-ups and arm muscles.. a problem - May 1 2008 15:52:39
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Lord Monkcheese
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From: daarn sarf
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It's possible you're unaware of using the arm to gain a slight bit of momentum to enable you to sit-up.
My advice would be to try an alternative abdominal exercise for a while as unless you're adding weight to the exercise, after 2 months of daily sit-ups, it's likely you'll have taken them as far as you can go anyway.
Out of interest how many do you do per day now and how many when you started?
Perhaps try Reverse Crunches (lie on your back, arms behind your head on the floor, legs elevated. Using your abdominals rather than momentum, try and lift your hips off the floor)
This will mean your arms aren't involved at all so should stop them hurting.
You can increase the difficulty by extending the legs so your heels are just slightly above the floor but to ensure the abdominals get worked rather than the hip flexors, ensure your lower back is in contact with the floor at this stage.
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RE: Sit-ups and arm muscles.. a problem - May 1 2008 15:56:03
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requiem
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Thanks for the reply, I may give that different style a try. I started on around 20 and can do about 35 now, not a great amount I realise!
Could you possibly answer this one - Would placing my hands at the back of my head/temples be better than crossing them across my chest for this tension problem?
Thanks for your help!
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RE: Sit-ups and arm muscles.. a problem - May 1 2008 16:57:08
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Lord Monkcheese
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From: daarn sarf
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The danger of putting the hands behind the head is they're often used to pull your head and body up rather than the abdominals doing the work. You could change the hand position and put them on your legs or by your side on the floor.
Without knowing the cause of your arm problem it's hard to determine what's going to make it worse and what you may get away with.
By eliminating the use of your arms doing the Reverse Crunches that may identify a possible reason.
Providing the abdominals are contracting during the exercise then they will be getting worked and there's a multitude of different ways of exercising them, so give the R.C a try and see what happens.
In terms of the number of repetitions you;re doing, rather than just going up and up, try adding in extra sets. So do 15, rest for 30 seconds, do anther 15, rest again, finish with 15 - job done.
If you can't manage 3 lots of 15, start with 3 x whatever you can manage and keep increasing until you reach 3x15.
This applies to both crunch variations.
_____________________________
LMC MT "Charts & Graphs" Movie
"Strongman" Training at School
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RE: Sit-ups and arm muscles.. a problem - May 1 2008 16:59:27
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facelikearobbersdog
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quote:
ORIGINAL: requiem
I'll give that a go, thank you. One more question... Would placing my hands at the back of my head/temples be better than crossing them across my chest for this tension problem? Thanks for your help.
Well placing them behing your head would probably also force you to create tension on the lift.
Cross high up on the shoulders and you'll see. We had to do it like this in the army so max pressure was put on the abs and was assisted by momentum.
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RE: Sit-ups and arm muscles.. a problem - May 1 2008 20:57:35
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requiem
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haha, i was waiting for that reply. thanks guys, all very useful tips.
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