Situps

They can be good but only if done properly and with appropriate other core exercises too. If they're hurting your back you're probably doing something wrong. Try doing plank and variations thereof instead. eg

https://www.shape.com/fitness/workouts/abs-workout-secret-formula-flat-stomach

Start with a low number and gradually build up. I had a hernia op earlier in the year so had to start from scratch again.  Back up to 100 sit ups at a time, but went from 10, 20, 30 etc.

Your back shouldn't be hurting, so take it easy.

I've been using them as part of a daily workout for a few years now, great for core strength on the bike.

Yeh,I need to find alternative exercises to strengthen my gut muscles.Tried leg raises on bars but that just hurt my arms.

I like the ab roller but start off with a few and build from there.

Planks are good and there was a recent report that they were very effective for lowering blood pressure, along with wall sits.

Try some kettle bell windmills. Get the side gut helping your frontbgut

They're very meh. They push your curved spine against the floor and work your hip flexors more than anything else, there's a reason that as a test of abdominal strength they've been binned in defence.

As others have said plank. Or hanging leg raises, russian twist, seated scissor kicks, prone knee raises. There's a variety that are simply more effective.

They work your 6 pack not the underlying core muscles, good for beach body aesthetics not core strength.

Slow controlled "crunches" (sit ups) should only go through around 30 degrees of range of movement, anything extra will recruit your hip flexors which are attached to your lumbar spine and unless you have ultra core strength, will result in back pain.

Do a majority of "core" work exercises for usable functional benefits and chuck in some crunches for your beach bod.

I have a book on how to build a better core for cyclists.  In the first paragraph it tells you to stop doing sit ups. The only thing they do for your core is imbalance it. As mentioned earlier in the thread planks, glute bridges, leg raises etc are much better

Look at deadbugs too. When done properly with the proper core bracing they're quite effective.

https://nick-e.com/deadbug/

Just wondering if they are actually a good form of exercise

They're not.

You're much better off doing isometric style ab exercises eg hollow body holds.

Abs are not designed to do sit-up style movements, they mainly stabilise your core in an upright position, the range of motion of the sit-up is completely non functional.

they mainly stabilise your core in an upright position

Yeah, since realizing I had pretty bad posture, I've found one of the easiest things to do for my core is to force myself to have good posture when standing, walking, running, when moving around in general.

Built a habit of consciously engaging my core as much as possible throughout the day until it just clicked and became natural.

If your shoulders are okay with it, then standing tall and trying to reach the ceiling, then add in some small side bends, hollow body, arch back. Body rotations while standing, hip rotations, all while trying to engage the core and maintain good posture.

Thanks for all your replies.I forgot to mention I have some Achilles issues so planks are not to good for me.I think leg raises might be the way forward.

I really suffer with lower back because I haven't really paid attention to my core since I was 17.

I do situps (limited range, the shoulders don't go down to the floor and I only come back up about 30 degrees and hold), Russian twists, leg raise, bicycle twists, leg raises and planks in some variation. I pick 3 or four of them, do two sets each three or four times a week and while I still look like a fat bastard my back has been great for about a year. 🙂

Back up to 100 sit ups

Show off.

If Achilles prevents planking, do them testing your shins on a cushion instead, same core effects.

Good idea,thanks.

Show off.

Well according to this thread they've been a waste of time 😀

@monkeycmonkeydo I've sent you a download link for a document for alternative core exercises. It was created by a military rehab instructor and physio, loads of variations of exercises that might help.

@relapsed_mandalorian please could you send it to me too?

Thankyou r_m.

Just done a bit of an abs workout in the gym, amongst other exercises

3 x 10 upward trunk rotation @ 12.5kg

4 x 10 kneeling cable crunches @ 36kg interspersed with

4 x 10 on the abs roller

1 x 10 pull ups with legs raised to horizontal

2 x 10 leg raises holding the pull up position

Sometimes use the abs machine at the other gym and sometimes do declined bench crunch/sit ups, but only through a few degrees not sat up. If you can't feel tension, then it's doing nothing

<p style="text-align: left;">Doing sit ups I always feel tension.</p>

seated leg crunches work for me.   done with balance rather than holding bench with my hands.

a proper core/stomach workout.

Doing sit ups I always feel tension

If you sit all the way up, there's little to no tension

Thanks ton,I will look into that .