Crunch (hands overhead)

Muscles involved

Abs

How to do it

1. Lie on your back with your knees bent and feet flat on the floor, then extend your arms straight up towards the ceiling, holding them alongside your ears. 2. Engage your core and lift your head, neck, and shoulders off the floor, reaching your hands towards the ceiling. 3. Pause at the top of the crunch, feeling a strong contraction in your upper abdominal muscles. 4. Slowly lower your upper body back to the starting position on the floor.

Equipment required

Peso corporal

Muscles worked

MaleFemale

Rectus abdominis

Tips

- Keep your chin off your chest and your gaze towards the ceiling to avoid neck strain. - Lift your shoulder blades completely off the floor to maximize abdominal contraction. - Use your abs to pull your ribs towards your hips, not your neck and shoulders. - Exhale forcefully at the top of the crunch to engage your core further.

Difficulty