Breathing
Exhale as the target muscle shortens against resistance and inhale during the controlled return. Keep breathing steadily throughout the set.
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The Crunches primarily works the abdominals. It is a strength movement that needs no equipment.
1 / 2How to
Movement instructions
Lie flat on your back with your feet flat on the ground, or resting on a bench with your knees bent at a 90 degree angle. If you are resting your feet on a bench, place them three to four inches apart and point your toes inward so they touch.
Now place your hands lightly on either side of your head keeping your elbows in. Tip: Don't lock your fingers behind your head.
While pushing the small of your back down in the floor to better isolate your abdominal muscles, begin to roll your shoulders off the floor.
Continue to push down as hard as you can with your lower back as you contract your abdominals and exhale. Your shoulders should come up off the floor only about four inches, and your lower back should remain on the floor. At the top of the movement, contract your abdominals hard and keep the contraction for a second. Tip: Focus on slow, controlled movement - don't cheat yourself by using momentum.
After the one second contraction, begin to come down slowly again to the starting position as you inhale.
Repeat for the recommended amount of repetitions.
Technique guidance
Exhale as the target muscle shortens against resistance and inhale during the controlled return. Keep breathing steadily throughout the set.
General guidance based on the exercise and equipment. It is not personal coaching or medical advice.
Your progress
Keep the same exercise variation, range of motion and recording method when comparing Crunches sessions.
Repetitions and completed sets.
Example: 10, 9 and 8 completed reps. Keep each set separate instead of recording only the total.
Compare repetitions using the same variation and range. A different variation needs its own history; extra reps are not directly comparable if the movement changes.
Read the tracking guideThe examples show how to keep a record. They are not workout targets or a personalised training plan.
See how Jijibisha tracks your progressMuscles
Muscle guide
Abdominals is the primary muscle group. The lighter highlights show the supporting muscles involved in the movement.
Swap it
Different equipment, same muscle
These movements also target the abdominals using something else.
Related
Related movements
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