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.
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Related exercises to discover
TRX Suspension Strap Mountain Climbers
Modified Bicycles / Elbow-to-Knee Crunches / Cross-body Crunches
Plank Leg Lifts
Crunches is a at-home exercise that targets abs. Use the illustration and instructions above to learn how to perform this exercise with proper form. Related exercises that work similar muscle groups include Trx suspension strap mountain climbers, modified bicycles / elbow-to-knee crunches / cross-body crunches and plank leg lifts. Browse our free illustrated exercise directory for more exercises.
👉 Want to use this exercise in a full workout? Our WorkoutLabs Fit workout app lets you follow ready-made home and gym workout plans or build custom workouts with exercises like this. Try it free today.
Exercise illustration licensing: Our exercise and yoga pose illustrations (static and animated) are selectively available for licensing for commercial and non-commercial projects. Visit our exercise illustrations licensing page for detailed information and to submit in inquiry.
Follow ready-made home and gym plans with visual demos and timers – or create custom workouts from exercises like this.
Build illustrated workout plans for your clients in minutes – then share them as branded PDFs or interactive workouts.
Our illustrated Yoga Cards deck is the perfect way to start practicing at home – no class, no studio, no experience needed. 100,000+ sold.
