Exercise

Exercise Ball Crunch

Also known as: stability ball crunch, swiss ball crunch, ball crunch, exercise ball ab crunch

Exercise Ball Crunch — position 1Exercise Ball Crunch — position 2

Exercise Ball Crunch is a isolation exercise for the abdominals. Main target: upper abs. Equipment: exercise ball.

EquipmentExercise ball
TypeIsolation
MovementPull
CategoryStrength

Muscles worked

Muscles worked in the Exercise Ball Crunch: primary in bright, secondary in light
Primary

How to do it

  1. Lie on an exercise ball with your lower back curvature pressed against the spherical surface of the ball. Your feet should be bent at the knee and pressed firmly against the floor. The upper torso should be hanging off the top of the ball. The arms should either be kept alongside the body or crossed on top of your chest as these positions avoid neck strains (as opposed to the hands behind the back of the head position).
  2. Lower your torso into a stretch position keeping the neck stationary at all times. This will be your starting position.
  3. With the hips stationary, flex the waist by contracting the abdominals and curl the shoulders and trunk upward until you feel a nice contraction on your abdominals. The arms should simply slide up the side of your legs if you have them at the side or just stay on top of your chest if you have them crossed. The lower back should always stay in contact with the ball. Exhale as you perform this movement and hold the contraction for a second.
  4. As you inhale, go back to the starting position.
  5. Repeat for the recommended amount of repetitions.

Similar exercises

Weighted Ball Side Bend
Exercise ball
Obliques
Exercise Ball Pull-In
Exercise ball
Lower abs
Torso Rotation
Exercise ball
Obliques

Alternatives with other equipment

Cable Crunch
Cable
Upper abs
Ab Crunch Machine
Machine
Upper abs
Crunches
Bodyweight
Upper abs
Suspended Fallout
Other
Upper abs
Weighted Crunches
Medicine ball
Upper abs
Weighted Sit-Ups - With Bands
Bands
Upper abs
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