Myth #1 – Doing Sit-ups are the best way to get a six pack

For decades, the sit-up has been widely accepted as an effective abdominal exercise. Thus, for someone just getting into the game of abdominal exercise, the sit-up is the logical choice. However, recent studies show that the sit-up movement is not only not very effective but puts an unhealthy level of stress on your spinal cord. The actual “six-pack” muscle, the rectus
abdominis (extends the entire length of the abdomen) muscle gets little stimulation during the sit-up movement. In fact, it is the hip flexor muscles that get the most stimulation. Thus, if you wanted to specifically target the rectus abdominis, the sit-up would be a poor choice of an abdominal exercise. Also, it would be a mistake to focus on any one exercise. A core exercise program should be one that encompasses all of the major muscles that support the spine, including but not focusing on the abs. By focusing on a specific muscle or a few specific muscles could lead to posture problems and awkward and unhealthy support of the spinal cord.