Advertisement
question

What are up-downs?

National Academy of Sports Medicine
National Academy of Sports Medicine
answer

Up-Downs are excellent for building strength and power in the legs, core, low back, and upper body. Starting position: Stand tall in an athletic stance with your feet shoulder width apart, eyes looking forward. Movement: In one smooth, strong move, lower yourself all the way to the ground until you can place your hands flat on the floor just outside of your feet. Try not to place your hands very far in front of your feet as this reduces the intensity of the workout. In a similarly smooth and strong motion, contract your abdominals while shifting your weight slightly onto your hands, and then explosively kick your legs back into a pushup position. The goal here is to reduce vertical movement of the hips as much as possible. Return movement: Repeat the exact same steps in reverse order to return to the starting position. Strongly contract the abdominals and try to roll yourself into a ball while sucking your feet up and under a stable upper body. Stand up, and repeat. Variations: To make this more difficult you can add a jump after returning to the standing position, kick your legs out to either side on the way back, or even do these on one leg. Before adding variations, make sure you can perform the basic movements flawlessly. Any extraneous movements will be magnified with higher intensity and will reduce the effectiveness of the exercise. Repetitions/Time: Begin with 3x30 seconds with 30 seconds rest between intervals.

Continue Learning about Types Of Exercise

What is the principle of adaptation?
What is the principle of adaptation? The principle of adaptation refers to the body getting used to ...
More Answers
How does exercise burn fat?
How does exercise burn fat? The main reasons exercise burns fat is because it increases the rate of ...
More Answers
What is muscle activation?
What is muscle activation? Muscle activation is an exercise technique that wakes up the muscles oppo...
More Answers
What is an external rotation of the leg?
What is an external rotation of the leg? External rotation is rotating the anterior surface of a bon...
More Answers

Important: This content reflects information from various individuals and organizations and may offer alternative or opposing points of view. It should not be used for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. As always, you should consult with your healthcare provider about your specific health needs.