Improvement in Sit-up Performance Associated With 2 Different Training Regimens

Abstract

Shannon Lynch, MPT, OCS 5Study Design: Factorial experimental design. Objective: To compare the outcomes of 2 different abdominal muscular fitness training regimens on sit-up performance across sex and abdominal muscular fitness level. Background: Researchers suggest that the curl-up, when compared to the sit-up, optimizes the challenge to the abdominal muscles while minimizing shear and compressive forces on the lumbar spine. Although researchers have compared curl-ups and sit-ups in many ways, a comparison of sit-up performance after training programs involving curl-ups and sit-ups has not been investigated. Methods and Measures:One hundred two active, healthy, college-aged subjects participated in this study. After stratification based upon maximal 2-minute sit-up performance during the orientation session, subjects were randomly assigned to either a training group using curl-up exercise, a training group using sit-up exercise, or a control group. Maximal 2-minute sit-up test performance was measured before and after a 6-week training program. Data were analyzed utilizing an ANOVA model. Significant interactions or main effects were analyzed utilizing Tukey's Honestly Significant Difference Test. Level of significance for all testing was at ␣ = 0.05. Results: The sit-up training group improved significantly (PϽ0.05). No significant difference in sit-up performance was noted for the curl-up or control groups after the 6-week training program. No statistically significant difference in improvement was noted between sex of subject and level of abdominal muscular fitness of subject. Conclusions: Short-term sit-up training with the Modified Kersey Method in this population significantly improved a maximum 2-minute sit-up test performance. Curl-up training utilizing the same method did not result in improvement in the number of sit-ups performed in 2 minutes. Specificity of training provides the primary explanation for our findings.

Norms for an Isometric Muscle Endurance Test

“…Despite the widespread use of these tests, it has been suggested that there are concerns with these tests both in the objectivity of the tester as well as in the validity of the role of the participant in the assessment. As the pioneer in abdominal testing, sit-up tests in particular have been hypothesized to induce low back pain likely as a result of elevated compressive forces as well as an increase in hip flexor activity especially when the participant became fatigued ( Andersson et al, 1997 ; Baxter et al, 2003 ; Childs et al, 2010 ; Diener et al, 1995 ; Jette et al, 1984 ; Juker et al, 1998 ; Liemohm et al, 1988 ; Mcgill, 1995 ; Nachemson and Elfstrom, 1970 ). Second to the sit-up test, more recently research has developed curl-up tests that possibly decrease lumbar spine stress and hip flexor activity that were seen with sit-up tests in the evaluation of abdominal endurance ( Juker et al, 1998 ; Knudson and Johnston, 1995 ; Nordin and Frankel, 2001 ; Sternlicht and Rugg, 2003 ).…”

“…Sit-ups with the feet restrained, in particular require hip flexor activation, which greatly aids the sit-up motion and has been hypothesized to increase the risk of injury because of the movement involved in the motion of a sit-up. There are several concerns with the sit-up in addition to the hip flexor activation alternating patterns of lumbar flexion coupled with hyperlordosis that has been linked with increased pressure on lumbar discs ( Baxter et al, 2003 ; Jette et al, 1984 ; Juker et al, 1998 ; Liemohm et al, 1988 ; Mcgill, 1995 ). In addition, the administration of sit-up and curl-up tests have been criticized because they require a high degree of administrator training and subjective interpretation of form in order to ensure test validity and reliability ( Andersson et al, 1997 ; Knudson, 1999 ).…”

The effects of a `home-based' task-oriented exercise programme on motor and balance performance in children with spastic cerebral palsy and severe traumatic brain injury

“…The extent of this transfer may depend on the similarity between tasks or environments. 29,32,33 The Step-Up 34 and the Timed Up and Go Tests 35 are common means for assessment of balance in adult patients with motor impairments. Our training protocol incorporated similar motor elements involved in these tests.…”

Associations of sit-up ability with sarcopenia classification measures in Japanese older women

“…In home-based exercise routines, sit-ups are commonly incorporated for improving muscular strength and mass of the abdominal and hip joint flexor muscles. The previous studies [ 10 , 27 ] have reported the effect of exercise training on sit-up performance. For instance, Childs et al.…”