A comparison of the difference among selected sit-ups with regard to strength

This study was undertaken to compare different variations of sit-ups for increasing the strength of the abdominal musculature, and to compare the results with a previous electromyographic study. Thirty-one subjects, chosen from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, were divided into four experimental groups and one control group. Groups A, B, and C were given a five-week period of training, and Group D was given a three-week period of training between the initial and the final test. The exercises performed were isotonic and isometric contractions. All groups used the overload principle except Group D which performed one single six-second contraction daily. The effects were determined in terms of scores on the tensionmeter. In treating the data, means, standard deviations, tests of significance, and an analysis of covariance were used to analyze the results