Five common exercises you should never do

[verbal]

I found a link to this page on Digg.com and i thought it was an interesting read.

Five Common Excercises You Should Never Do

The exercises are common ones and I wondered what people on here thought of the article.

 

[digitalwolf]

Oh dear, and I do three

Behind Kneck Shoulder Press - I hate this, it really strains my kneck, any good alternatives? I'm terrified of dropping the barbell on me when failing.

Sit Ups - I only do this as like a semi warm up.

Leg Extension - I do this once a week, it works for me, makes my legs all jelly like

 

[A2Z]

i agree with the behind neck stuff, i never do it anyway. never done leg extensions and dont plan to, squats take care of quads for me. never heard of bicylcle crunches, will give them a try next time i do abs!

 

[beh]

So the premise being any exercise done improperly could be harmful? Nothing new there. Hardly makes for the rash title "Five common exercises you should never do". Does anybody lock their hands behind their neck when doing sit-ups for example?

 

[trojan698]

OT but I found this on another page,

In fact, women who want a lift can just strength-train, which counteracts sagging by sculpting the pectoral muscles underneath the breasts. You'll also build more power for everyday demands on your upper body, like pushing a shopping cart.

good to know this site promotes pert breasts and women doing the shopping

 

[oddjob62]

I find the behind the neck pulldown and press much better and more comfortable than in front. The problem is most people haven't got enough shoulder flexibility.

 

[Chong Warrior]

I so expected upright rows to be in there!

Bicycle crunches? Why not just call them twisting crunches like everyone else?

I find the behind the neck pulldown and press much better and more comfortable than in front. The problem is most people haven't got enough shoulder flexibility.

Some people can do them, some can't. All to do with how your shoulder joint is made up. I definately can't!

Same goes with upright rows but I can do those fine until I try going really heavy so I only do them with 8 reps and above.

 

[Chads]

Thing is, I find sit-ups really useful when you need to add weight, you can just hold a couple of dumbbells by your head. I don't do a big sweeping movement from lying to upstraight, more like a tight crunch-like movement that really seems to help my abs. It also seems to be easily adjustable, allowing you to work the obliques.

Can't say i've ever felt a strain on my neck, maybe because I don't get to the lying down position and therefore have to "pull" my neck up like you see some poeple doing.

 

[DanF]

I usually go with what these guys say EXRX

There's a few stomach exercises you can do without straining the neck so much, check the jack-knife and v-up.

This is what they say on arm position and crunches.

 

[Supercow]

Oh dear, and I do three

Behind Kneck.... my kneck

Sorry, but for some reason, those spelling mistakes made me rofl

 

[Morba]

I so expected upright rows to be in there!

Same goes with upright rows but I can do those fine until I try going really heavy so I only do them with 8 reps and above.

haha, i was expecting upright rows to be included

i agree that some people just do not have the flexibility to do certain exercises, while other exercises do put undue stress on areas you dont want.

im not a fan of behind the neck presses, but i find behind the neck pull downs fine.
sometimes straight bar curls are a pain, so i use an ez bar instead when needed.
leg extensions though? never heard that one before.

like anything in life, do it wrong and anything will harm you one way or another. people just need to realise whatever it is, they learn good form and start light.

 

[mrthingyx]

Thing is, I find sit-ups really useful when you need to add weight, you can just hold a couple of dumbbells by your head. I don't do a big sweeping movement from lying to upstraight, more like a tight crunch-like movement that really seems to help my abs. It also seems to be easily adjustable, allowing you to work the obliques.

Can't say i've ever felt a strain on my neck, maybe because I don't get to the lying down position and therefore have to "pull" my neck up like you see some poeple doing.

I think the issue is using those hands behind ones' neck to "pull" themselves through the sit-up. Think of it as trying to literally twist the head off at the shoulders and it becomes pretty clear why it's not the cleverest thing to do.

Not rocket science by any stretch of the imagination. But then again, running it pretty shocking (ahem) for the old knees and lots of people still do it.

 

[alexakasloth]

I agree with them about barbell curls, it's why I only ever use the preacher curl/ez curl or dumbells. Disagree with the leg extensions though, never felt them to be a problem.

 

[Stiff_Cookie]

Personally, I am going to do what I feel is comfortable and working. I dont ever work through pain. I will work through muscle fatigue but if something starts to hurt than I dont do it any more.

I have never had a problem with any of those exercises listed.

 

[Heaven Can Wait]

The leg extensions I really dont agree with.
when I squat I generally use my right a little more than my left, so I do leg extensions one leg at a time, to even things a little.
situps with your hands behind head isn't too clever, cant see whats so wrong with doing them on a decline bench though, If you do it right you can work the abs more.

 

[Greenlizard0]

Lie on your back with your feet up in the air, then bend your knees at a 90-degree angle. With your hands behind your ears, pump your legs back and forth while moving your armpits (not your elbows) toward the opposite knees.

wtf lol?

 

[Chong Warrior]

wtf lol?

They're actually very good and a great way of mixing up your ab routine

As for leg extentions I don't do them. They seem to cause a lot of stress on my knees.

 

[Tommy B]

I have always thought sit ups bugger your back/neck.

 

[Stiff_Cookie]

I dont see how situps would mess up your back or neck. If you do the correctly than how is it damaging. Your spine is supposed to be able to bend in that direction, whether your standing up or lying down.

If you put your hands behind your head and pull up with your hands, you are dumb and that can cause neck strain. However, putting your fingers behind your ears or across your chest is not going to hurt your neck.