Twisting Crunch
The twisting crunch exercise is a variation of the normal crunch, which places more emphasis on the oblique abdominals towards the sides of the stomach.
Teaching points
- Lay on your back with the knees bent.
- Place your hands under your head or on your temples.
- Lift the head, neck and shoulders off the ground and rotate the trunk so the right elbow meets the left knee.
- Try to keep your neck relaxed.
- Rotate back to the centre and return the head, neck and shoulders to the floor.
Muscles worked
- Rectus abdominus.
- Transversus abdominus.
- Internal obliques.
- External obliques.
Alternative exercises
- Crunch using a resistance band.
- Sitting twist using a resistance band.
- Standing twist using a resistance band.
- Side plank.
Related injuries
- Abdominal strain.
- Lower back pain.
