Making a case against crunches

Crunches are the popular exercise of choice for building flat and toned abdominal muscles. The problem is this probably isn’t the best tool for the job.

It flies in the face of what people have been told all their lives. Crunches are not completely good for your body. The actual crunch motion puts a strain on your back. Many nerves are located in the back of the spine and that is the part that bends during a crunch. Crunches can lead to herniated disks, which can cause persistent back and leg pain.

When a person moves a heavy object, we are encouraged to lift with our legs – not our backs. The ironic thing is that a crunch requires you to strain your back in a similar manner from a lying down position. Dozens of crunches each day can add up to lower back problems.

Crunches are touted as a solution for flattening your stomach. That claim is a little misleading because a crunch only targets the abdominal muscles in front. The ones on the side are largely unaffected by the exercise.

Doing a crunch does not train your abs the right way. You need to focus on exercises that will help keep your spine straight and strong.

Push-ups, planks and leg drops all offer good alternatives to crunches. These exercises can help you reach your fitness goals without putting excess strain on your lower back.

Planks, leg drops and push-ups target your core muscles without neglecting other key muscle groups. It will help you create a strong all-around body instead of sculpting out a few nice-looking ab muscles at the expense of persistent back pain.