Sit ups and coccyx problem

Sit ups and coccyx problem

Author
Discussion

Sharief

Original Poster:

6,339 posts

217 months

Saturday 27th January 2007
quotequote all
Not sure if this is the right section, but oh well. I'm currently trying to begin doing sit-ups, and the problem is not so much my abs aching but my coccyxs. When I do the sit up, and can feel the flesh running over the coccyx bone, and it really gets quite painful after about 10 sit ups. Can anybody explain why this is happening/how I can stop it?

Thanks

hsvgtscoupe

2,535 posts

231 months

Saturday 27th January 2007
quotequote all
Sharief said:
how I can stop it?

...don't do sit ups??

Sharief

Original Poster:

6,339 posts

217 months

Saturday 27th January 2007
quotequote all
rolleyes

There's always one. hehe

hsvgtscoupe

2,535 posts

231 months

Sunday 28th January 2007
quotequote all
Sharief said:
rolleyes

There's always one. hehe

and it's nearly always a smart arse aussie!

percy flage

1,770 posts

223 months

Sunday 28th January 2007
quotequote all
You're growing a tail.

percy flage

1,770 posts

223 months

Sunday 28th January 2007
quotequote all
On a more serious note, are your knees raised off the floor? If not, try it. Angle of about 45 degrees, feet flat on the floor.

Also, try lying flat on the floor and raising your heels about six inches from the floor and holding for a ten count. Then raise slowly to 90 degrees, then lower to six inches without the heel touching the floor. Ten count. Repeat until the veins in your forehead pop.

tigger1

8,402 posts

222 months

Sunday 28th January 2007
quotequote all
Hav you damaged your coccyx at any point? It's possible to "break" a little off it. Unfortunately the best way to diagnose it is a digital approach from the rear...

Do you use a mat?

Sharief

Original Poster:

6,339 posts

217 months

Sunday 28th January 2007
quotequote all
No, I've never (to my knowledge) damaged it. And I don't use a mat either.

hsvgtscoupe

2,535 posts

231 months

Sunday 28th January 2007
quotequote all
my other comments aside - I have a similar issue with situps; esp on a hard floor. I find cruches far more effective at giving the abs a proper workout - lay with yr knees raised, feet flat on the floor & arms crossed on yr chest. Lift yr shoulders off the deck but dont go past 30 degrees (should not affect yr tailbone at this angle) you should feel yr abs straining so try and hold the position for a 5 sec count then lower again. Do as many as possible in 10 rep sets with 30 sec break between sets. Just as effective is to lay flat and raise yr heels off the ground 6 inches & hold in similar fashion to above. In both cases you should maintain staring at a fixed point on the ceiling to avoid the natural tendancy to strain yr neck forwards. IMHO situps do more harm than good to yr back & neck unless yr on a proper angled situp bench and already quite fit. They also have far less effect on strenghtening abs than more compact crunches.

Sharief

Original Poster:

6,339 posts

217 months

Sunday 28th January 2007
quotequote all
hsvgtscoupe said:
my other comments aside - I have a similar issue with situps; esp on a hard floor. I find cruches far more effective at giving the abs a proper workout - lay with yr knees raised, feet flat on the floor & arms crossed on yr chest. Lift yr shoulders off the deck but dont go past 30 degrees (should not affect yr tailbone at this angle) you should feel yr abs straining so try and hold the position for a 5 sec count then lower again. Do as many as possible in 10 rep sets with 30 sec break between sets. Just as effective is to lay flat and raise yr heels off the ground 6 inches & hold in similar fashion to above. In both cases you should maintain staring at a fixed point on the ceiling to avoid the natural tendancy to strain yr neck forwards. IMHO situps do more harm than good to yr back & neck unless yr on a proper angled situp bench and already quite fit. They also have far less effect on strenghtening abs than more compact crunches.

Okay I'll try crunches. Thanks.

M400 NBL

3,529 posts

213 months

Sunday 28th January 2007
quotequote all
Crunches are better than sit ups but it's best to alternate. If for nothing other than keeping it interesting.

You could try a pillow under your coccyx when doing sit ups. And if you ever buy a sit up bench, pay a bit more for a decent one. If it's £20, it's for a reason....normally it will cause pains everywhere but your abs.