![]() ![]() “Crunches can be an effective tool for beginners to learn how to properly engage their abdominal muscles,” notes Deutchman. ![]() But crunches are a beginner-friendly ab exercise that can make your first several weeks of workouts more approachable. (Image credit: Getty) Should beginners do crunches?Įveryone needs to start somewhere on their fitness journey and jumping into advanced core exercises such as planks and Russian twists using a medicine ball can be overwhelmingly difficult. “The abs are a pillar of the entire body, helping connect the upper and lower body, which is why it’s often referred to as ‘core.’ As a result, the benefits of training your abdominal wall can support you no matter your lifestyle.” “Exercise in general has a myriad of health benefits, such as improving lung capacity, increasing cardiovascular output, and boosting your lung capacity, but specifically targeting your abs can have a compound effect of improving posture, decreasing risk of acute or chronic injury, and improving movement,” he says. This key core muscle functions somewhat like a corset, helping to stabilize your entire core to support your spine.ĭeutchman says that strengthening all of these abdominal muscles through crunches will improve not only your athletic performance, but also your functional movements for everyday life. ![]() They also engage the muscles on the side of your trunk (the obliques), which help you to bend to one side, as well as the deep core muscle - the transversus abdominis - which wraps around your entire trunk in a 360-degree fashion. In layman’s terms, crunches primarily work the main abdominal muscle that run down the center of your stomach (the rectus abdominis), or the one we think of when we talk about “six-pack abs.” “Crunches are a mostly isolated movement, mainly working the rectus abdominis muscle, while secondarily working the obliques and transverse abdominis,” Deutchman says. This can help bring your awareness to the muscles you should be engaging as you perform an exercise and it can also ensure that you are doing well-rounded workouts that target all the major muscles in the body. Crunch FAQs Which muscles are worked by crunches?Īlthough you don’t need to be an anatomy buff to properly perform exercises using the right muscle groups, it’s helpful to understand the muscles worked by any exercise. There’s no prize for doing more reps either rather, you’ll get more benefit from slowing down, doing fewer reps, and mastering the proper form and technique. Go slowly with the movement and engage your abs. Overall, although crunches are often considered a poor core exercise by more advanced athletes, this beginner-friendly ab exercise shouldn’t necessarily be overlooked.Ĭrunches have their value, particularly when you are just getting started on your fitness journey. “More advanced moves may include plank variations, medicine ball throws, and using weights to escalate the load and intensity of a crunch.” “Your exercise level can help determine whether crunches are a sufficient exercise for abdominal training, or you may need more advanced moves to attain your goals,” shares Deutchman. “Instead, cross your arms across your chest and you’ll find your abs will fatigue a lot quicker.”Īlthough crunches can be a good exercise for beginners, there are some alternative core exercises that can be even more effective and will help improve the functional strength and mobility of your core. “Be careful when interlacing your fingers behind your head when performing crunches, as this will encourage your neck into flexion and do work that your abs should be doing,” he advises. It’s important to perform crunches safely and Deutchman says this means avoiding strain on your neck. Switch sides to bring your right elbow to your left knee. ![]()
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