Abs/kegels
 

So confused!! All the talk about kegels causing more problems than they help and crunches being bad for the spine has me a bit anxious as to what I should be doing. How do we sort it all out?

I've heard about the abs controversy, but not the kegels one. I'd like to know more.

Jane,
Google "Down there for Women". I really think she is on to something I did not start having issues until I started doing high impact aerobics and pelvic tilts with Jane Fonda videos when I was in my late teens early 20's a few years before I even had my 2 children.

Is this who you are referring to: http://alignedandwell.com/ ?

Editing to add: http://www.alignedandwell.com/_produ...here_For_Women

Direct link for Down There for Women DVD with video clip.

~Lissa

On that Oprah clip, Jane demo'd two exercises for the elderly. One showed her sitting straight up in a chair and then slumping and tilting her pelvis. I recall thinking that would wreck my back, which is why I never do them.

This is interesting. Thank you for posting this.

OK now, I am more confused than ever. First heard yesterday that women with Osteopenia which is literally the majority of postmenopausal women should avoid spinal twists as well as forward Flexion. Now this expert (Aligned & Well) suggests spinal twists for digestion:confused: Personally, I usually avoid spinal twists because they triggered lower back/hip problems for me, even though they are recommended for the lower back.
Guess it all comes down to listening to your own body and it something doesn't feel right, don't do it.

Barb S
who only has one lumbar vertebra in the osteopenia category while the other vertebrae are ok to make it all more confusing

Dr. Loren Fishman, who wrote (with Ellen Saltonstall) Yoga and Osteoporosis would disagree about twists. Yes, forward bends can be dangerous, but twists can actually be beneficial. Fishman is currently conducting his second study re: the benefit of yoga on bone density. I'm a participant.

A few weeks ago I had a bone density class with Saltonstall. All of the women in the group were in osteopenia range, or had osteoporosis. We did twists.

Katy Bowman's blog (alignedandwell) is very interesting. You can subscribe to receive email notices of updates.

And Teresa Tapp has, for over decade, been encouraging twisting the spine daily.

I hate that there's uncertainty among experts about what's good and harmful for us. Tuck, don't tuck. Bend, don't bend. Twist, don't twist. AND DON'T LIFT ANYTHING OVER 3 POUNDS, FOR PETE'S SAKE!

I go with the philosophy that muscles that get used stay strong and supple. So, if I spend my life avoiding a move, then that muscle will atrophy and become more inflexible, and eventually crippling.