[Spider_Video_Player id=”23″]
Ab Scissor Exercise
This is a standard exercise in most gyms. Unfortunately, it’s commonly done wrong. See, this exercise is supposed to be a transverse abdominus exercise designed to help you hold your abs in and rotate your pelvis. Most people are just focusing on lifting their legs. Doing it wrong only results in strengthening your hip flexor muscles.
Benefits
Strengthens the transverse abdominus muscle that hold your stomach in.
Body Parts Used
Scissor exercises are designed to mostly focus on your transverse abdominus muscles. These help hold in your stomach muscles.
[hmtad name=”In Content” align=”left”]
Instructions for Scissor Exercise
- Lie on your back on a mat or soft surface.
- Raise your legs straight up from your hips.
- Your spine should be in a neutral position (no high arch) or even more flattened.
- Tighten your ab muscles to not allow any more movement of your spine throughout the exercise.
- Lower one leg toward the floor only as low as you can before your slow back starts to raise up off the floor.
- Once that elevation is reached, start to raise that leg to it’s starting position while lowering the other leg to the same position.
- Continue until fatigued.
Variations (all are good and valid options)
- Bending the knees makes it easier if needed.
- Raise your shoulders off the floor to increase the intensity if needed.
Sample Routine
If you were interested in a sit up workout, I suggest you instead see samples of complete ab workout routines.
Note: One exercise alone is not sufficient for any goal. All exercises should be part of a comprehensive exercise program. Also, see my list of exercises for more.