abdominal cramping

[Hugh]

Normally when you're training a muscle group to failure its the fatigue that stops doing any more reps. When Im doing weighted crunches on the ball I find I often need to stop because of a cramping sensation in my abs. If I push too hard when this happens am I risking a hernia or something? What’s the deal with this? Should I stop or push on through?

[ngapuhi strong]

only time i've had that kind of experiance is wen its been a hot day and i've drinkin alot of water before hitting weighted crunches on swiss,

just a thought,

[Hugh]

The feeling is more superficial and cramp like, pretty sure its not water related...

[Cammo]

Try a spoonful of glucose before doing your crunches.

[Dumbelldog]

I bet you can't keep pushing on through it!

[Flex]

It most likely that you are working your hip flexors more than your abdominal muscles - this reduces bloodflow and oxygen transport to the abdominal muscles resulting in a burning or cramping sensation. You won't be able to push through it as you're essentially starving the muscle of blood and won't have any strength in them. Your best bet is to do ab exercises that are less hip flexor dominant or try to isolate your abs more and reduce the use of the hip flexors.

[Hugh]

aha. Might be so because I never get that sensation when doing crunches on a decline bench or when doing leg raises.

[Laver]

When I first read this post I didnt think I had any experiences that related to it, but just read the new posts today and a light bulb turned on.

I occasionally used to get an extreme burning sensation in my lower right abdomen area, it was quite a unique and very painful feeling.

I don't remember if it was before or after I started doing weights; or what ab exercises used to cause it.

So I still can't be any help, but I don't get it anymore and just wanted to share my exp