when working out stomache, back starts to hurt...

[kraze]

i've tried pretty much every stomache exercise, but for some reason the middle/lower portion of my back always tends to hurt. i concentrated on form, and for the longest time have even been doing back excersises (upper and lower)... what gives? i rarely can get the feeling i've actually worked out my stomache.

 

[cmdubs]

have you tried hanging knee raises, straight leg raises, or cable crunches?

 

[bignate73]

i would recommend stretching your low back.

 

[kraze]

have you tried hanging knee raises, straight leg raises, or cable crunches?

yep!! those are apart of my routine still... i just can't do enough to where i can feel my stomache being worked on

 

[kraze]

i would recommend stretching your low back.

i stretch before hand...

 

[the guy on the couch]

i get that exact same pain in my lower-middle back when doing abs. for me, it seems like it's right on the spinal column. i only do straight leg raises (hanging with my hands from the cage). i'm doing them today... i'll get back to you if i can figure it out.

 

[Tactile]

Try going slower on your ab exercises. Slow and smooth should have your midsection quivering.

 

[super_rice]

in my experience the pain usually comes from

1) strength imbalance
2) inflexibility in lower back
3) form (flatten your back then curl up, not this crazy ballistic thing)

 

[kraze]

i get that exact same pain in my lower-middle back when doing abs. for me, it seems like it's right on the spinal column. i only do straight leg raises (hanging with my hands from the cage). i'm doing them today... i'll get back to you if i can figure it out.

yes, for me too hanging from the cage and doing raises works best... but i still cannot achieve the true workout feel in the mid/lower section

 

[kraze]

Try going slower on your ab exercises. Slow and smooth should have your midsection quivering.

i have found that to work really well sometimes after i've done another section (like legs)

 

[kraze]

in my experience the pain usually comes from

1) strength imbalance - core strength?
2) inflexibility in lower back - so what do i do?
3) form (flatten your back then curl up, not this crazy ballistic thing)

i get what you're saying about the ballistic thing, but i've tried every possible form...

 

[the guy on the couch]

update: just worked abs yesterday. yeah, it's the damn hanging straight-leg raises. i find myself bending my lower back in an effort to tighten my abdominals and help raise my legs. i decided to do my leg raises on a machine like this one:

http://www.e-weightloss-fitness.com/abdominal_exercises/weightloss_diet_1307.JPG

(No... that's not me. I'm not too keen on wind pants anyway)

using this machine keeps my lower back straight, allowing me to exclusively use the abdominal muscles to raise the legs. much easier on my back. i'm guessing that because my lats are flexed in the hanging position, i really can't bend my upper back to crunch my abs together, so all that bending takes place right where the lats do (lower-mid back). just my guess.

give it a shot and let us know.

 

[kraze]

update: just worked abs yesterday. yeah, it's the damn hanging straight-leg raises. i find myself bending my lower back in an effort to tighten my abdominals and help raise my legs. i decided to do my leg raises on a machine like this one:

http://www.e-weightloss-fitness.com/abdominal_exercises/weightloss_diet_1307.JPG

(No... that's not me. I'm not too keen on wind pants anyway)

using this machine keeps my lower back straight, allowing me to exclusively use the abdominal muscles to raise the legs. much easier on my back. i'm guessing that because my lats are flexed in the hanging position, i really can't bend my upper back to crunch my abs together, so all that bending takes place right where the lats do (lower-mid back). just my guess.

give it a shot and let us know.

yep! i use that machine too! back still hurts. im going to concentrate on keeping my back straight. also outside the gym, i have a bad posture when i sit down... bad long habit.

 

[TRUEsoldier]

eh, all you need is find a hot chick and get a long ass massage!!! maybe a a good crackin of the lower back, and you'll be good!!!

and if its more than that, go get it checked out by a chiropractor, maybe you got somethign slipped back there!