Sit-up_(exercise)

The sit-up is a strength training exercise commonly performed with the aim of strengthening the abdominal muscles and hip flexors.

The sit-up begins with lying with the back on the floor, typically with the knees bent in an attempt to reduce stress on the back, and then elevating both the upper and lower spine from the floor until everything superior to the buttocks is not touching the ground.

It is now widely considered by sports scientists that the sit-up imposes unacceptable strain on the back [1]. Additionally, the abdominal muscles are responsible for only the first 30° of lift in a sit up - effectively the part of the motion where the shoulders only leave the ground - with the hip flexors taking over thereafter, making it dangerous and ineffective [2]. Consequently the crunch has replaced the sit up for adombinal training in many training programs. [3][4]

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