Abdominal Exercises – Reverse Curl
April 2, 2012 by admin
Filed under Abdominal Exercises
The reverse curl will develop the lower abdominal muscles and will help to reduce a protruding stomach and obesity. Many parents have no idea that their child could be overweight, according to a study which found that offspring who are chronically fat are typically viewed by their mother and father as being of normal weight. In a survey that involved 277 British children, researchers found that only a quarter of parents recognized when their child was overweight. Where children were obese, a third of mothers and 57 percent of fathers thought their offspring was “about right,” according to the study, published online Friday by the British Medical Journal (BMJ). The skewed outlook also applied to the parents’ view of themselves. Among parents who were overweight or obese themselves, 40 percent of mothers and 45 percent of fathers considered their own weight to be “about right.”
These perceptions are major hurdles to fighting child obesity, because parents who do not recognize the condition will not do anything about it.
Child obesity has already reached epidemic proportions in the United States and is spreading rapidly in Britain and elsewhere. One of the most simple and safe way to start improving your fitness level is the reverse curls. Starting Position: Lie on the floor. Bend the knees, place the feet flat on the floor, and place arms at sides. Movement: Pull the knees to the chest, raising the hips off the floor; do not let the knees go past the shoulders. Keep your head in a neutral position. Slowly return to starting position.
Exhale as you pull your knees toward your chest; inhale as you return to starting position. Repeat until fatigued.
You can increase a level of difficulties by placing a small pillow under your lower back and holding a weight (for example, a bottle with water) between feet. Keep your buttocks off the floor when you bring your knees to the chest. Repeat until fatigued. Always exhale when you pull your knees toward your chest and inhale when you return to the starting position. If you have a back problem, start with massage of your lower back by your knuckles first for one minute. You might find it appealing and more effective to add to the reverse curls an aerobic exercise with resistance that involves some large muscles in the body. Please consult with your doctor before starting any exercise program. For more information visit www.tuneup.org.
Mikhail Levitin MS Physical Therapist, Former Olympic Athlete, 5th degree Black Belt
