TKOS
Registered
Stretching and a good diet usually relieve most cramps.
Which exercise to do....
- Thread starter AquaPixie
- Start date
Please register or login
Welcome to ScubaBoard, the world's largest scuba diving community. Registration is not required to read the forums, but we encourage you to join. Joining has its benefits and enables you to participate in the discussions.
Benefits of registering include
- Ability to post and comment on topics and discussions.
- A Free photo gallery to share your dive photos with the world.
- You can make this box go away
bka317
Registered
don't old fashioned sit ups work the abductors?
CameronMartz
Fitness Instructor
The hip muscles you are thinking about are collectively known as the "hip flexors." These are the muscles you use to lift your leg directly in front of you. During a sit-up, these muscles engage after your abdominals have fully contracted to lift your upper body off the ground. This is one of the reasons why crunches are just as effective to exercise your abdominals since they are the complete abdominal portion of a sit-up (as an aside, crunches are much better for your lower back than sit-ups).
The hip abductors are the muscles you use to lift your leg out to the side. They are not especially engaged during a sit-up. There are, however, machines that work these muscle groups (as mentioned by others), and you can also do several variations using a cable or exercise band strapped to your ankle.
These muscles provide a diver with directional control with all fin techniques and are especially important to proper frog kick. Overuse and fatigue seem to be part of the triggering mechanism for exercise associated muscle cramping. Research dating back several decades has called into question claims for electrolyte or hydration triggers, so it appears that this is one of those fitness myths that even the experts propogate:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/...ve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=15273192
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=2361783
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=3735481
Cameron
The hip abductors are the muscles you use to lift your leg out to the side. They are not especially engaged during a sit-up. There are, however, machines that work these muscle groups (as mentioned by others), and you can also do several variations using a cable or exercise band strapped to your ankle.
These muscles provide a diver with directional control with all fin techniques and are especially important to proper frog kick. Overuse and fatigue seem to be part of the triggering mechanism for exercise associated muscle cramping. Research dating back several decades has called into question claims for electrolyte or hydration triggers, so it appears that this is one of those fitness myths that even the experts propogate:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/...ve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=15273192
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=2361783
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=3735481
Cameron
OrlandoRogue
Contributor
I work out at an all woman's gym and it is amusing to see that very few women do the hip exercises even though that is one of the areas we complain about the most. I think they usually avoid though, because they are not immediately obvious how to use. The machine at the gym where you stand, tie the strap to your ankle and use your hip abductors to lift the selected amount of weight is extremely helpful! Do this exercise 2-3 times a week, and you will start see the results after just a few weeks. Because it is one of those muscles we tend to neglect, results can be seen quickly. I am a jogger, so although other areas stay thin, that one needs a little help on me as well! (Okay, reading my reply...I am thinking that I sound like an infomercial, lol! I do love that exercise, though!)
Similar threads
