Sit Up

Watch the video below to see a demonstration of proper form and technique for the sit up exercise. You can also check out some more abs exercise videos or find exercises for other muscle groups.

Instructions for Sit Up

To perform a set of sit up:

1. Starting Position

   Lie supine on a mat with your hands across your chest, knees bent, and feet on the ground anchored by a partner or bench. The trunk should be in a neutral position.

2. Concentric (Upward) Motion

   Maintain the netural position of your trunk as you drive your knees toward your chest to pull your whole trunk off the ground together. It is important for your feet to be well anchored and to breathe normally throughout the entire movement.

3. Top position

   Pause at the top position for a 1sec count while squeezing your abdominals.

4. Eccentric (Lowering) Motion

   Lower your whole trunk back to the ground, under control, without losing its neutral postion. Remember to breathe normally throughout the entire movement.

5. End position

   Repeat steps 1 through 4 until you have completed the desired number of sit up repetitions before resting.

This completes one set of sit up.