Abdominal Crunch Exercise | Fitness and Freebies

Home > Articles > Exercise! > Abdominal Crunches

Abdominal Crunches

The abdominal crunch is an exercise we can all benefit from. This muscle group is the key to good posture and overall strength. It all starts here.

BONUS TIP: Pull in your abs before curling up to work your muscles twice as hard.

How to perform the abdominal crunch:

Lie down on your back on a mat placed on the floor
Place your hands behind your head to support your neck
Roll your shoulders blades up off the floor as far as you can
Hold the contraction for a moment and slowly lower your shoulders back down in a controlled fashion
Do twenty repetitions before taking a rest and repeat this a maximum of three times depending on your fitness level

Trouble shooting:

Your hands should only support the weight of your head. You should not try and pull yourself up with your arms.
Do not hold your breath while exercising - oxygen fuels the muscles.
If you can't finish the above-mentioned repetitions, do as many as you can the first time and work your way up from there.
This can be done three times over the next week for beginners and up to 5 times for more experienced individuals.