PE Teacher still using the traditional sit ups for abs?!?! - Personal Trainer Community - Forum

[muscletrainerdh-NSCA CPT]

Okay,

I'm not going to sit here and pretend I have a degree in exercise science or kinesiology.

But I do know that the "traditional sit up" works more of the psoas muscle (hip flexor) than the abs. I thought most of us fitness professionals PE Teacher and Personal trainer alike were on the same page with this. Apparently NOT!

So why are high school PE teachers still teaching our kids that the traditional sit ups are the best thing for ab development?

The reason I ask is because one of my client's children actually disputed the effectiveness of the traditional sit up with his PE Teacher, INVOKING MY NAME OF COURSE, and now it looks like I've got to either get this guy up to date on ab exercises or tell the kid to shut up and listen to his teacher! LOL

HELP!

Dave

[Sandy]

Hi guys,

I have had my kids come home and telling me the exact same thing about the situps.
Actually the situps itself pushes the stomach muscles outward compared to doing Pilate's which pulls the stomach muscles inward and breathing through the diaphram (spell check in that word) :roll:

[rbd]

I think John made some great points about McGill's work and current thoughts in the strength and conditioning field. I don't think there is inherent problems in working the psoas as we have been let to believe and probably have avoided psoas training. As for pilates, McGill's research on transverse and drawining in really contradicts a lot of what is taught in pilates, so I don't think a lot of what is taught in pilates is correct either and have had way too many clients hurt in those classes, so would not consider them to be that great for core training either - yes they have their place, but they are missing the point on a lot of issues.

[muscletrainerdh-NSCA CPT]

Dave,
Its really has nothing to do with having a degree in exercise phys. or kinesiology. I learned the same stuff in college that the psoas was over-worked in a sit up. It is really just about continuing to learn new concepts by updating the current information with new research. Its from buying books from noted experts, and attending seminars, and speaking with fellow colleagues.

THanks Everyone for your input.

No the reason I prefaced my post with the degree remark was because that was what the PE Teacher threw back in this students face: "I Went To School for XX YEars, I Know what I'm talking about-blah-blah-blah".

And then after I posted I was wondering, yeah but how often do you take CECs or keep up on current Physical Education trends?!? I mean If I got to do it to keep my certification, surely teachers have to do it as well. Right? So I'm guessing he got his degree and hasn't kept up with physical education trends.

And the other reason is, I am applying for the Fitness Coordinator job at this kids high school as they just opened a new fitness center and I'm wondering if this PE Teacher, if he found out I was the personal trainer of the kids mom, would make my life dfficult with all of his "PE Degree" glory! LOL You know the type. "How can he teach our kids about strength training he doesn't know what the insertion or origin attachments for the vastus intermedius are...."

Thanks Guys and gals!

Dave

P.S. Amazingly enough no exercise/fitness specific college degree was required to apply for the job.

[kettlebell king]

There are some really bad p.e teachers out here in the u.k- I think that you'd be surprised how bad the P.E teachers are here compared to the u.s. Especially the old school ones who have very little knowledge of exercise science. The newer ones are definately better but I doubt most of the older surviving ones wouldn't even know what Psoas was!

[kettlebell king]

''You'd be surprised at how many trainers out there don't even know "where" the psoas is!''

Surely Not! Hopefully the universal standard of trainers is above this now?Even some of the older trainers I know of - still going at 50+ have basic anatomical knowledge?

[pookie]

I was talking to my nephew the other day about this very thing. He is 9 and in 4th grade and he told me his PE teacher no longer lets them do sit-ups because he told them it is bad for the neck and back.

[kettlebell king]

I'm training a fella too for the marine entry qualification and i've had to do sit ups with him as they are part of his entry test- full sit ups hands not leaving the temples 80 in under 2 minutes. Although perhaps a little back strain is the least of their worries!