Crunch
How to do it
Starting position
- Lie on the mat, bend your knees, and plant your feet on the floor
- Set your feet hip-width apart and cross your arms over your chest
- Look toward the ceiling and lightly tuck your chin
Movement
- Engage your abs and curl your upper body up
- With your upper body raised, give your abs a brief squeeze
- Slowly return to the starting position
Breathing
Exhale as you raise your upper body and inhale as you lower it
Trainer tips
- Curl your ribs toward your pelvis
- Keep your lower back pressed against the floor as you come up
- Exhale and squeeze your abs
Cautions
- Raising your upper body too high strains your lower back, so only lift slightly
- Pulling on the neck with the hands
- Lifting all the way up through the lower back, turning it into a sit-up
- Coming up quickly with momentum
If you feel pain during the exercise, stop. If it continues, talk to a professional.
Exercise info
| Primary muscles | |
|---|---|
| Equipment | |
| Movement pattern | Core |
| Rep range | 12–20 reps |
44 similar exercises
Representative exercise: Machine Lying Crunch
- Machine Lying Crunch
- Lying Toe Touch
- Crunch against Wall
- Crunch (Arms Straight)
- Lying Butterfly Crunch
- Crunch (Hands Overhead)
- Lying Crunch (Straight Legs)
- Lying 90° Leg Tap Crunch
- Lying Crunch Through Legs Abduction
- Crunch (arms on chest)
- Seated Alternate Crunch
- Lying Alternate Toe Touch
- Crunch (on Bench)
- Floor Crunch Feet on Bench
- Lever Lying Crunch (VERSION 2)
- Crunch (on bench) (Demo 2)
- Crunch with Medicine Ball (Demo 2)
- Lying Frog Crunch
- Bottle Weighted Overhead Crunch
- Lying Frog Crunch (Feet Together)
- Lying Rectus Abdominis Activation Crunch
- Dumbbell Straight Arm Crunch
- Weighted Dumbbell Crunch (hands overhead)
- Weighted Crunch
- Weighted Plate Lying Crunch
- Lever Seated Crunch (Chest Pad)
- Lever Seated Crunch (Hands Pad)
- Weighted Plate Crunch (hands overhead)
- Dumbbell Straight Arm Crunch (VERSION 2)
- Dumbbell Overhead Crunch (on Stability Ball)
- Kettlebell Overhead Crunch (on Stability Ball)
- Weighted Dumbbell Crunch (hands overhead) (VERSION 2)
- Decline Crunch
- Bosu Ball Crunch
- Crunch with Medicine Ball
- Crunch (on Stability Ball)
- Weighted Crunch (VERSION 2)
- Lying Bench Crunch with Leg Adduction
- Medicine Ball Crunch on Stability Ball
- Weighted Overhead Crunch (on Stability Ball)
- Weighted Plate Crunch (hands overhead) (VERSION 2)
- Ring Supine Crunch
- Suspension Supine Crunch
- Weighted Decline Crunch
Related exercises
Decline Sit-UpHarder3/4 Sit-UpHarderResistance Band Lying Leg RaiseSimilar exerciseAb Machine CrunchSimilar exerciseStability Ball RolloutSimilar exerciseDumbbell Overhead Sit-upSame muscle · different equipmentMachine Lying CrunchSame muscle · different equipmentBarbell RolloutSame muscle · different equipmentBand Kneeling CrunchSame muscle · different equipment
This information is based on our analysis of public content from evidence-based training experts in Korea and abroad. It is not a substitute for medical advice.
Weights and sets differ from person to person. The GYMKC app uses the sets you log to calculate the weight and reps for your next set.