Programmes > Abdominals
Crunches
Lie flat on your back with your feet flat on the ground or on a "sit-up board." Cross your hands and place them on your upper chest. Keep your head and neck stable.
The Exercise: You should visualize the rib cage being drawn down and in toward the pelvis when the abdominals contract. Both the contraction and the eccentric (i.e., lowering) phase should be slow and precise.
Caution: Don't put your hands behind your head. This leads to poor form and possible injury.