it's a way to work your abs without doing crunches. gripping the arm rest helps too. don't hold your breath. or even do one leg at a time.

even if you can do 4 or 5....then work your way up.

I've been gone most of the day. Yes, I do wear a back brace. I have worn one for 16 years. I have had seven surgeries and have been fused from L/2 to S/1. I have DDD so bad that my spine looks awful. I showed Gaye one of my x-ray's when she came up for a visit. My bone's are so deteriorated and have spurs on them. I have had the BMP (bone morphogenetic protein). Nothing works very good so you are probably as well off without the surgery. I have even had a stimulator and had it removed too. I too, had numb legs but don't anymore. The surgeries are very painful but later I am much better. It just don't last long until something else goes wrong. Now L/3 has slipped over L/4. Its been fixed 3 times.
_______
Billie

billie, maybe you need to get a regular brace that has the metal to help hold up your spine? It could be that the kind you wear doesn't have enough support. so sorry you have slipped again my friend. it is sad to see your pain come back like it has. hugs, gaye

Gaye, I have some brace's that are custom made. Most cut my skin or are so HOT you wouldn't believe it. In the begining I use to wear what is called a Warm and Form kind. They actully heat them and put it against my back so it would be the shape of my back. They were the worse of all.
______
Billie

I could not do both legs at a time....that is tuff stuff!
you are awsome dear curious.
((((((((((((hugs)))))))))))))))
bizi

Neither could I Bizi...and my chair has no arms!

ok......so a variation is to keep those feet together..straighten legs out infront of you( heels on the ground, toes pointed up)...then lift. on the lift hold for atleast 5 seconds. keep breathing.

this will work the quads more then the abs. but if suck in those abs...it helps.

Dear curious,
I am confused...I tried lifting with my arms...what did you mean lift what? try to stand up you mean?
sorry not good at this stuff.
bizi

ROFL..like mother, like daughter! *whisper..lift leg. I finally figured it out but I'm really thankful that she reminded me to breathe.

yep..lift legs