The Leg Raise On The Board With The Head Down
A supine position on the inclined board with the feet uphill. The knees are straight but the feet are not under the strap. The hands should grasp the sides of the board.
Action: Keeping the knees straight and the feet together, the legs are raised until they are at right angles to the board. The movement is then continued until the legs are well over by the head. Some will be able to bring them over until the toes
touch the board or the floor. Keeping the knees straight, the legs are returned to the starting position.
position, exhale as they are carried overhead, inhale as they return to the perpendicular position and exhale as the heels return to the board.
Starting Resistance: In this movement, the weight of the legs provide the necessary resistance.
Progression: This movement is best begun at 5 counts with 1 count added each week until the desired maximum is reached, which may be anywhere between 20 and 50 counts.
Goal: All should work up to at least 20 counts in this movement.
Results: This exercise aids in strengthening the lower section of the abdominal wall. As the legs go beyond the perpendicular position to overhead, the lumbar curve in the lower back is straightened, relieving pressure on the spinous processes and inter-vertebral discs.
Comments: This is a comparatively mild exercise and is a good one to use at the beginning of a program. Because if its value as a movement to relieve pelvic pressure and congestion and low back discomfort, it is especially recommended for girls and women.
Because of poor posture and abdominal tone, the pressure of abdominal viscera may lie quite heavily on the pelvic organs. This overhead movement will aid greatly in restoring the abdominal organs to better position which will relieve the pressure on the pelvic organs.
In cases of malposition of the uterus, it will aid greatly in restoring it to proper position. Many cases of faulty menstrual function have disappeared entirely with an improvement in posture and abdominal tone.
The Hip Raise on the Inclined Board
Position: A supine position on the board with the head toward the upper end. The upper end of the board or the strap is held in the hands to keep the body in position. The knees are bent up toward the chest until the low back is flat against the board and the heels are 8 to 12 inches above the board.
Action: From this position, keeping the legs relaxed, the knees are brought strongly toward the chest so that the hips are raised as high as possible off the board. The hips are then lowered back to the board until the low back is flat again upon it.
When this point is reached, the knees are brought again up toward the chest and the hips raised as before. Most of the effort of the motion should be made with the abdominal muscles with the pull of the arms used as little as possible. When the low back is returned to the board, the legs must not be permitted to sag down toward the board, otherwise the hip flexor muscles will assist in the motion and destroy some of its effectiveness for the lower waist.
Breathing: Exhale as the knees are brought up toward the chest and inhale as the hips are lowered back to the board. This will seem quite opposite to the natural inclination, but when the abdomen is compressed as in this motion, the air should be expelled.
Starting Resistance: In this movement, the weight of the legs will supply the necessary resistance.
Progression: Begin the motion with 5 counts, adding 1 count each week until 20 or more have been performed. There is no fault with doing more than 20 counts, even working up to 50 counts, if the effort is not too great.
Goal: All should work up to at least 20 counts in this motion.
Results: This exercise is a specific motion to strengthen the lower part of the abdominal wall. It will aid greatly in developing or restoring good support in the lower abdomen.
Comments: This motion is more difficult than it appears to be. In the beginning a very strong pull with the arms may be required to get the hips off the board. As strength is built in the abdominal muscles, less effort is required of the arms. During the exercise constant attention will be required to prevent the legs returning closer to the board when the low back returns to the board. This is a relatively advanced exercise and one of the best for the lower waist.
Good abdominal tone is necessary to support the viscera and pelvic organs properly, relieve blood congestion and promote better return circulation to the heart. In addition, the contraction and extension of the abdominal muscles aid very materially in the peristalsis of the large colon. With regular exercise the use of any cathartic, however mild, is unnecessary.
The strength and tone of these muscles are strong factors in maintaining a correct curve in the lumbar spine, so that the curve is not accentuated causing low back pain and discomfort.
Lack of abdominal tone and support of the viscera causes pressure on the pelvic organs. This pressure interferes with the flow of blood in the iliac veins and arteries in the pelvis. This condition is at the very least, a strong contributor to the condition of varicose veins in the legs. An improvement in muscle tone and body mechanics has a most favorable effect on the symptoms of varicose veins.
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