Thanks for the question. Do you have a back history? Then sit-ups could your end.
If not: A sit-up or a rope crunch or the like will not -LIKELY- hurt or break your back in the short term, doing them occasionally.
But we know that it can lead to disc bulges and worse. We also know that they simply are not efficient and could hurt you over time – that’s enough for me…. And for someone else they could be the thing that is the last straw for their back and it goes.
Here’s another thing – most versions of crunches or sit-ups ie standing crunch work your discs more than your actual intent: your ‘abs’. To me, it’s pretty simple. Unless your specific demands you to be in flexion (which powerlifting doesn’t) I don’t think you can even justify much of any flexion period.
Like Paul said – carries, stir the pot, holds, drags and such not only are better on your body, they carry-over to your performance much better.
As far as chains sure – they can have their place, what place do they have in your training? In other words: why? This is what you have to answer.
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Brian is a world-class powerlifter with over two decades of elite and pro-level powerlifting under his belt. Coming back from a devastating back injury in 2012 that broke multiple bones and that most experts said he would never recover from, he has returned to the pinnacle of world-class lifting (while 100% pain and symptom-free) and is now dedicated to helping others avoid the same mistakes that he made in the past through private and group coaching in Jacksonville, FL.
Brian’s impressive recovery has given him the opportunity to teach and deliver talks to physical therapists, chiropractors, medical doctors, professional strength & conditioning coaches and experts from all facets of sport, on how to avoid injury, while building anti-fragile strength and resilience in athletes.
