Ab exercises + scoliosis

[cyberdork]

I have scoliosis, nothing terrible but it does affect me, making ab exercises very hard to do. If I do 25 crunches I lay on the floor and struggle to catch my breath for a second because my back tenses so hard. Situps are better, but are still hard. What else can I do for my abs that would be easier on my back other than knee-ups?

[v4lu3s]

maybe do crunches or situps on something softer than the floor? pretty much every ab exercise i ahve done relies on a curl type movement. cable crunches, leg raises, decline situps, crunch machines, crunches etc. I have scoliosis bad enough that years ago when I tried to join the navy they had to take xrays and make sure that I could even get in, but i have never had issues with a good ab workout yet...

[thefugate]

I'd avoid most sit-ups and stuff that makes you kinda slouch forward until your back muscles get more flexible. For now I recommend doing leg raises, both hanging and lying flat.

FYI I do also have scoliosis and have a much better back than I did by working on flexibility FIRST. Flexibility of your spine and back muscles are your number one priority, especially if something like sit-ups is causing you pain.

[matt1001]

FYI I do also have scoliosis and have a much better back than I did by working on flexibility FIRST. Flexibility of your spine and back muscles are your number one priority, especially if something like sit-ups is causing you pain.

i also have it, how did u improve your flexibility

[headhuntr]

Stretches and Yoga is how I work on mine.