Push-up's/Sit-up's

[Sniper82]

Whats the proper way to do a push-up? I keep my back straight and go all the way down and touch against the floor. But anytime I see someone do it on TV they barely go half way down and then back up. Am I doing it wrong?

Also whats the best most effect way to do a sit-up?

 

[Deeko]

They don't do it right. They are cheating. Keep your back straight, touch your chest to the ground.

 

[clamum]

Originally posted by: ^Sniper^
Whats the proper way to do a push-up? I keep my back straight and go all the way down and touch against the floor. But anytime I see someone do it on TV they barely go half way down and then back up. Am I doing it wrong?

Also whats the best most effect way to do a set-up?

by someone, who do you mean? i think you're doing it the proper way. i remember in gym class the instructor used to make a fist and put it on the floor, we had to touch his fist (about 2-3 inches off the floor). for sit-ups, all i know is that you should cross your arms on your chest as opposed to putting them behind your head/neck, as it can strain your neck.

 

[datalink7]

Depends on the kind of pushup.

What a proper pushup is for my physical training class, run by the Army, is to keep your back straight and go down so your arms make at least a 90 degree angle.

If you keep trying to look forward, as opposed to at the ground, it helps to keep your back straight.

Situp is going so your head goes past your butt (basically just go all the way up). Make sure your legs don't make a greater than 90 degree angle.

 

[Crappopotamus]

w/ situps, i put my hands by my ears, and crunch up. from the half sitting position, i twist my body to a side. its TOUGH. works those obliques [?]

 

[Sniper82]

Well I keep my head down on push-ups. As for sit-ups I cross my arms on my chest and come about halfway up and back down.

 

[datalink7]

Originally posted by: ^Sniper^
Well I keep my head down on push-ups. As for sit-ups I cross my arms on my chest and come about halfway up and back down.

Keep your head looking ahead of you.

And you aren't doing a sit up... that is more of a crunch. For a situp, keep your hands locked behind your head (during a PT test if our hands come apart we get disqualified) and come all the way up.

 

[psydancerqt]

i was told in my health class that the best position for sit ups is to sit with your legs up on a chair bent. and to keep your neck straight, not down... with a straight index finger, put your thumb in that little hole just below the neck. that's how your neck should be. put your hands behind your head for neck support, but dont use your arm muscles and cause strain on the neck.

 

[KokomoGST]

The key to sit-ups... well, a full crunch rather is to maintain a constant stress on those adominals. The reason why situps aren't recommended is that you bend so much forward that you're actually taking the effort off your stomach muscles.

It's usually a good idea to support your neck during "situps"... I've had a horrendous, "my eyes blacked out from pain despite being open" neck strain injury. That was from keeping my head back during exercises to keep my back straight. Now I try to keep head straightup&down aligned with the back... no more injuries.

BTW, the Army pushup is the "right" way. You don't want to rest on the ground... you can also vary the angle of the pushup as well as turn your hands so your thumbs face parallel to your body to get more of your triceps. Varying the width between your hands will also change how the exercise hits your muscles.