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winnieboo
USA
269 Posts |
 Posted - 10/26/2008 : 08:50:41
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Hi all,
I'm back at the gym and feeling comfortable doing everything EXCEPT ab crunches. My original pre-Sarno diagnosis was two cervical bulging discs. I see that I still have fear regarding sit-ups and crunches. I used to do Pilates but I'm I little shy about going back to that, too. I was heavily into Pilates when I started with the neck pain...Any words of wisdom out there? |
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HilaryN
United Kingdom
879 Posts |
Posted - 10/26/2008 : 10:10:23
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Build up to them slowly. Don't do a load of them the first time.
Try and do just one the first time, then do one every day until you're confident that one isn't harming you. Then add another one. Build up the number very slowly.
If you're afraid of doing even one, which you may well be, see if there is a way you can slowly build up to doing one.
e.g. get someone to help you do a sit-up - or see if there is a way you can start with a partial sit-up. Maybe you could lean your back against a slope, almost vertical to start with, and do a mini sit-up from there. On subsequent sessions, make that slope a bit more horizontal, gradually increasing it until it is horizontal.
By building up gradually, it's easier to get over the fear.
I haven't a clue what a crunch is, so I can't help you with that one!
Hilary N |
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HilaryN
United Kingdom
879 Posts |
Posted - 10/26/2008 : 16:29:18
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The other thing is to have a contingency plan just in case you do get pain after your workout.
Your thought pattern is likely to be: "Oh no, I overdid it! It must be because I held my little finger at the wrong angle while I was doing that sit-up! ( )"
You change this to "I know this pain isn't structural, it's just an attempt to distract me from the underlying emotions" or whatever you prefer.
Hilary N |
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winnieboo
USA
269 Posts |
Posted - 10/30/2008 : 07:25:54
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| Thanks Hilary. That's really helpful advice. I'm doing my best to push through the fear and residual aches and pains. |
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Topic |
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Neck and "Crunch" safety
