Slings are types of looped structures meant to provide support to some object. Like we have slings to support a broken arm, or an injured neck etc. They are made of cloth especially linen and provide great comfort as support material.
The latest in exercise workout is using Abdominal Slings. As from its meaning we can infer that it will provide support. Actually using abs slings you can hang on to a solid staff and then do several abs workouts.
Slings are used to exercise and develop the strength in the lats, triceps, and abdominal muscles of the human body.
Parts of a sling
It contains a connective band that separates a pair of loops,
a pair of U-shaped forearm belts, and a pair of assemblies, each comprised of an inner shell and an outer skin.
Sling is attached to a bar, say a lat bar or a chin up bar by means of hooks provided .
Slings are padded and almost 8"-9" wide. Thus they provide extra comfort.
How does slings help in exercising?
Abs exercises can be carried out by placing the hands in between the looped structures. After the upper arms are well inside the loops and the body is balanced, then using the force of the sling hung by hooks, lift your legs and bring them perpendicular to your body. The whole body weight is supported by the slings. This exercise, known as leg raises, provides maximum stress to the abs muscles.
Earlier one had to hand on to a steel rod with his hands and then perform leg raises and other abs workouts. These were not only very strenuous but were prone to back injury.
Slings also provide means to exercise your lattissimus dorsi (lats) and the triceps. In a similar way, slide your upper arms and forearms in the loop. Then flex your arms and hang with the support of slings such that the muscles in the lats and triceps region are stressed.
Benefits:
Slings are very safe and comfortable. As they are soft and padded they provide extra cushion to the arms. Therefore earlier when people did not use slings, they ran the risk of injuring the arms and the back. Slings prevent such mishaps.
At the top of the slings a steel hook is provided. These firmly attach to the rod of about one and half inches diameter above. Therefore, you do not need to hang directly from the rod. This keeps your palms safe.
These can encourage superior toning of the abs region, making the muscles stronger and well groomed.
One of the very few workouts that isolate and work solely on the abs.
Risks:
Although the risks are minimal yet worth discussing. Even though there are extra pads provided to make them softer and more comfortable, yet there are chances of losing balance. This can result in long sustainable injury of the backbones. Sometimes even hyperextensions of the muscles in the lats as well as the triceps are possible. These can result in muscle pain in those areas and is quite painful.
Who should not work on slings:
As you know with any abs exercises, any patient suffering from stomach pain, abdominal muscle pull or pregnant women should not use slings. As these exercises affect the abs region the most, care should be taken as to be fit and well toned up before working out.
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