Crunch
The crunch exercise is the most well known abdominal exercise which can be performed at all levels of strength and experience.
Teaching points
- Lay on your back with the knees bent.
- Place your hands behind your neck (don't pull your neck forwards).
- Lift the head, neck and shoulders off the ground and slide your hands up, towards your knees.
- Try to keep the same gap between your chin and chest to avoid straining the neck.
- Slowly return to the start position.
Variations & progressions
- Position your hands on your thighs and reach up to your knees.
Muscles worked
- Rectus abdominus.
- Transversus abdominus.
Alternative exercises
- Crunch on a swiss ball.
- Crunch using a resistance band.
- Twisting crunch.
- Reverse crunch.
- Crunch resistance machine.
Related injuries
- Abdominal strain.
- Lower back pain.
