Oblique crunches

COURTESY OF GLOBAL FITNESS

Major muscles used

• Obliques
• Middle abdominals (Rectus Abdominis)

Performing oblique crunches

• Lie on your back with your knees bent and your legs as far as they can go to your right side, so that you upper body is now flat on the floor and your lower body is on its side.
• Your hands should be either crossed on your chest, by your side, or cupped behind your ears.
• Keeping your shoulders as close to parallel to the floor as possible, lift your upper body up until your shoulder blades come off the ground. Hold for a brief second flexing your obliques.
• Slowly lower to the starting position. After one full set on your right side, switch to your left side and continue.

Be careful

• Don't jerk yourself up to achieve the exercise. Slowly bring yourself up using your abdominals only.
• Don't let your lower back raise off the floor. Go as far up as you feel your abdominals become tight and hold for a brief second.
• Don't move quickly. You must do this exercise very slowly and resist on the way back.

Alternative exercises to oblique crunches

• Raised-legged crunches
• Cable crunches
• Hanging leg lifts

Courtesy of Global-Fitness.com, your Online Personal Trainer

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