Hello,

When performing the suspended double leg pull in exercise, which direction, in front or behind the anchor point, makes the exercise more challenging?

I thought if one moved behind the anchor point, the exercise is more challenging.

I beleive it matters how one is positioned for the exercise.

I look forward to the replys.

Eric Su

Hi Eric,

Welcome to the community!

Sorry, I've been meaning to get a reply to you for a few days now, been off and on due to a severe sinus headache, which I think is gone now.

Ok, so now the double leg pulls I'm not quite familiar with. I tried looking on Google, and YouTube, and I came up pretty short. Do you have some illustration, picture, video, etc... to show what exercise/movement you are referring to?

That will really help in helping determine the proper position you want to be in when doing the exercise for both good form and posture, and maximum results.

Hear from you soon.

Thanks,

Justin

 Justin,

Thanks for the response.

I am referring to the exercise where one is suspended in the plank position (push up position).  The person will then pull the knees in towards the chest.  Does that make sense?

If it does, then the question is will positioning in front of neutral make the exercise easier or harder?  The follow up question is will positioning behind neutral make it easier or harder?  Neutral to me is when the TRX hangs straight down from the anchor point.

If you need more claification, just let me know.

Eric Su

I think you're referring to the Suspended Crunch if I'm not mistaken.

Here is a pic I scanned previously from the All Body XPress Guide for the suspended crunch. 

If this indeed what you are referencing to, then as you see in the image, you want to be facing away from the anchor point. I suppose if you have an overhead anchor point, I would see no problem with which way you were faced, but using the door anchor I'm not sure how well that would work. I suppose it could provide more resistance, but just be careful you are not causing any hyperextension or hyperflexion in your joints by doing so.

Hope this helps.

Thanks,

Justin

 Justin,

Yes, that is the exercise.

So, I am asking if the person in the picture moved forward a foot to start the exercise, would the exercise be harder or easier?

I understand being carful of hyperextension and hyperflextion of joints.

isn't it true that, just like the angle to start an exercise when upright, the angle to start the suspended exercise matters too?

I was looking for clarification on this point.

Thanks.

Yes, I suppose positioning yourself farther forward away from "neutral" would add more of a challenge, as you are then adding more tension to the straps, which because the rule of physics relating to "Center of Gravity" basically applies here, in which gravity will want to pull you back to neutral position. Therefore, you are fighting gravity on both the horizontal and vertical planes, which would indeed put all the tension on both the straps and you (if that makes sense).

Now, as far as the angle in suspended exercises being important or relavent really depends on the exercise. Now when it comes to the Suspended Crunches, it's not so much angle you are concerned about as you are always at a flat 180º horizontal angle, but it's more back posture and arm/hand placement you want to be concerned about, as bad form will cause tension on joints, tissue, and muscle that if not corrected soon enough can lead to various injuries, which is never good.

Let me know if you have any questions.

Thanks,

Justin