Crunch

Teaching points

• Lay on your back with the knees bent
  
  
• Place your hands on your thighs
  
  
• 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

• Have your hands behind your head to support your neck - don't pull your neck forwards

Muscles worked

• Rectus abdominus
  
  
• Transversus abdominus

Alternative exercises

• Swiss Ball Crunch
  
  
• Crunch using a resistance band
  
  
• Twisting crunch
  
  
• Reverse crunch
  
  
• Crunch machine

Related injuries

• Abdominal strain
  
  
• Lower back pain