Sit-up problem: bruise tail bone

[astor211]

I'm trying to do sit-ups, but whenever I do them put tremendous pressure on my tail bone. If I do a set of, say 30, it cause a bruise and the friction it creates scrapes the skin.

I tried putting a pillow underneath my buttocks, but it didn't help.

I don't know if it matters, but I'm 6'4" and thin.



Thanks,

Astor211

[HB]

It might be worth talking with a physical therapist or certified athletic trainer on this.

I would suggest seeing if someone in one of those fields could help you come up with something like a thick piece of felt or other more suitable material, I mean like 1/2 to 3/4 inch thick in a form that you could use as a mat below your buttocks and lower back - but it would have the area beneath the tailbone cut out. Kind of like a donut, but not exactly.

The idea would be to elevate your buttocks and lower back just enough that with the "donut" or appropriately-shaped cut in the pad - there would be nothing touching or applying pressure to your tailbone. It sounds like you are quite thin, and the skin is literally being bruised and abraded by the pressure as it's squashed between the tailbone and the floor, or the pillow. In this way it would not be getting that pressure.

Hope you find something to help !

[Brindle]

I've had tail-bone bruises just from sitting for prolonged amounts of time. I found that an inflatable doughnut pillow really, really, really helped me. These things are just amazing. I now own about four (work, car, home, spare). You will find them with the supplies for elderly people in your local drug store.

An inflatable doughnut pillow may elevate your body too much and cause some complications. But you may be able to figure something out. I keep mine about 30% inflated.

How about doing sit-up's on your bed?

You could try using weights (ten pound plate) and thus decreasing the repetition, (although each repetition will have more weight).

P.S. Gee, you just be doing a whole lot of sit-up's. How much do you do in two minutes?

[Chainring]

To alleviate friction, you can use some Bag Balm, which you can get at Wal-Mart or maybe some vaseline. I have the same problem with friction. I wear the skin off but I do about 400 situps at a time (yes I use a padded mat). Those last 150 get painful. I'm going to be using the Bag Balm tomorrow. The padded donut is a real good idea too.

[astor211]

Thanks for the replies. Now that my rear has healed, I'm going to try both of those ideas.




Thanks,


Astor211

[Brindle]

Oh, one more thing you could try...Body Glide. Body Glide is what runners use to prevent chafing and blisters. It goes on like a semi-solid/semi-liquid anti-persperant and is used by competitive runners.