The String Theory
The Guardian recently had an article which described a novel way of, not only toning your tummy, but supporting your back too. Although we regularly give stomach exercises to balance the back muscles, this struck me as interesting!It works on the principle that for maximum effect, we need to have these muscles regularly contracted and it is very easy to forget once we step onto the ‘merry-go-round’ that comprises many of our days!
In the article, physiotherapist Sammy Margo suggested “In the morning, stand in front of the mirror, suck your tummy muscles in as far as you can, then release by 50%. Tie a piece of string in a reef knot snugly round the narrowest point, then put your clothes on."
There are no prizes for guessing what happens next, suffice to say that if you don’t feel rather uncomfortable shortly afterwards, you probably don’t need this exercise!
The advantage of this unconventional stunt is that it helps train your abdominal muscles –by nagging us each time we relax and the string feels uncomfortable, which in turn supports our backs. The muscle imbalance many people exhibit is a direct cause of many back pains. If I have a niggling back –as opposed to more severe pain - I first hug my knees to stretch the back muscles and follow this by controlled sit-ups. Usually this resolves the pain –if not, I see my osteopath!
The disadvantage is that you may end up with stomach ache or rope burn! It is a very basic method of firming tummy muscles and there are more focused exercises available. Also, if we are holding in our stomach for long periods of time, we restrict movement: of other muscles, of our bowels and even our breathing can change.
So, if you are feeling adventurous or desparate –give it a go! Alternatively – wait for our next blog where we will go through some more conventional exercises. Or try pilates or yoga -both of which can be useful for backs. And if you are still struggling with back pain – well…need I say more…
http://www.aboutbacksandbones.com/ or Call 01332 553332
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