Tip: Stop Doing Russian Twists
Stop Doing Twisting Sit-ups/Russian Twists
When you search for exercises that target the obliques you’ll come across the Russian Twist.
Chances are that you’ve done a couple of them in your own exercises.
Russian Twists require you to sit with your torso leaning back at a 45-degree angle, knees bent, and your feet either on the floor or elevated a few inches.
In most variations you hold something in front of your chest, usually a medicine ball or weight plate. From that starting position you rotate your shoulders to the left and right.
What you don’t realize is that it puts a ton of stress on the lumbar spine:
- The lower back is only able to rotate to 10 to 15 degress.
- Leaning back with your upper body unsupported puts your lumbar spine in a vulnerable position.
- When you twist side to side from that position it increases the risk especially if you add weight to the exercises.
There are way more effective ways to work your obliques that are less dangerous than Russian Twists and you’re about discover them very soon.
Exercise to Start Doing – Weighted Suitcase Carries
Suitcase carries are one of the most underrated core exercises on the planet.
If I told you that you can do one exercise that will…
- Make you stronger
- Work your inner and outer obliques
- Develop a stronger grip
- And strengthen your glutes
Would you do it? Of course you would.
This core exercise works your entire body from shoulders to feet and it isolates the oblique and glute to prevent you from side bending.
Here’s how to do a proper suitcase carry:
Get more info on Dan’s Complete Women’s Guide To Core Training
Dan Go, CPT, NWS
Founder – Go Girl Transformation
Rob King is a Competitive PowerLifter, Coach and Writer.
