Reviewed by JP Michelsen, CPT, B.A. Kinesiology
Crunches are one of the most common exercises out there. It’s an easy to perform, bodyweight exercise that targets your abdominals. Crunches are very similar to Sit Ups, however, instead of raising your upper body all the way into a near sitting position, you only raise your shoulder blades off the ground. This is a great exercise for beginners looking to build core strength.
Try to focus on keeping your core engaged even at the bottom of the motion. Even a momentary break at the bottom will make this exercise less effective. Focus on keeping some tension in your core as you lie back onto the ground.
Crunches are designed so you only raise your shoulder blades, not your entire torso. While it isn’t ineffective or dangerous to raise your torso off the ground, it isn’t a crunch. Focus on contracting your abs to get just your shoulders elevated.
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