Improper Crunches ? ( I`m scared! )

[kh_s]

okay I just got the most scariest feeling in the exercises I did just now. I just did 70 crunches (no reps, straight to 70) And this is how I do them:

Lay on floor. Knees are bent, Hands on thighs. Now the main exercise:

slide your hands/shoulders to your knee and back down to your thighs.

While doing this, I lift my head up, and slightly my back.

After doing that 70, I noticed PAIN ON MY NECK !? Holy SH** It was tighting up, It was like, I COULDN`T BREATH !!! I was freaked out sh**less. I`m 14 I called my mom " MOM! I my neck hurts, and it`s like I can`t BREATH!" yeah yeah... So what I got scared. She said just relax your neck, move it to the right side, then left. And so I did, yeah the pain went away. But wtf ? Crunches suppose to work your abs, not neck right ?

PLEASE someone reply to this post.

So how many times should I do crunches every week ? And how do YOU do them crunches ?

[Sage Gemini]

Your neck probably tensed up because of stress. (It has happened to me before too and it sucks.) A method that helps is to brace your neck with your hands by interlocking your fingers behind it. Also, if you lift only your upper back, trying not to use the muscles of your legs, neck, or back to assist, you might benefit. I usually do crunches every other day, in about 5 sets of 12 repetitions.

[Builderofmuscle]

Why would you do 70 crunches straight through? That's the dumbest thing I have ever heard, but neverthless, a common beginners mistake. You should vary your exercises, and work your abs in different angles. Give this routine a go:
Seated Knee-up
Twisting Crunch
Crunch

Do up to 25 reps of each exercise, starting with the first exercise, then doing numbers 2&3. Arrange exercises as a cricuit; do circuit three times total; resting 10seconds between sets. Your next workout, do three straight sets of each exercise; not a circuit; resting 25 seconds between sets.

[kh_s]

umm anyways

But have any of you guys experienced pain on your tailbone when doing exercises like V-ups, sit ups and any other similar exercises ? I dunno why but I do, and sometimes I would feel something burning on it.

[eXcessiveForce]

it is the last place I would mention burning sensations near your tailbone.


as far as pain, you are probably working on a hard surface and that is possibily causing brusing. try a softer surface.

as for the crunches. make sure you build up to them. Many of my students do hundred rep sets. But make sure you do not pull on your head with your arms to do them. concentrate on keeping your arms loose and only work the abs.

[Builderofmuscle]

remember, quality over quantity.

The only time I have ever felt burning on my tailbone is when the surface was to hard, or when I was wearing jeans shorts and pants, or any pants with the belt loops. Make sure you wear flexible clothing, and work on a rug or a mat.

[ptrainer]

I'd like to add another possibility for the "burning" on your tailbone.

If it's not the surface you're training on, it might be a result of what's called a vertabral subluxation complex. When there's a misalignment in your sacral area or anywhere else on your spine, it can cause pressure on nerves that lead to anywhere on the body. This can cause pain (all kinds) and confusion in the brain that may cause you to lose awarness on how to control the area.