Crunches
- Lie flat on your back with your feet flat on the ground, with your knees bent at 90 degrees. Alternatively, you can place your feet up on a bench a few inches apart with your toes turned inwards and touching.
- Place your hands lightly on either side of your head.
- Keep your elbows in so that they are parallel to your body.
- Push your back down flat into the floor to isolate your abdominal muscles.
- Gently curl your shoulders forward and up off the floor.
- Continue to push down into the floor with your lower back.
- Raise your shoulders about four to six inches only.
- Hold and squeeze your abdominal muscles for a count of one.
- Return to the start position in a smooth movement.
Related exercises to discover
Crunches is a at-home work out exercise that targets abs. Refer to the illustration diagram and instructions above for how to perform this exercise correctly. Cobra abdominal stretch / old horse stretch, battle rope double arm slams and gymnastic ring l-holds are related exercise that target the same muscle groups as crunches. Visit our free illustrated exercise directory for more exercises to try in your workouts.
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