Oblique abdominal crunch

The oblique crunch works all your abdominal muscles with an emphasis on your obliques.
Pay special attention to form if you have a history of lower back or neck discomfort.

Getting set
Lie on your back with your knees bent and your feet hip-width apart and flat
on the floor. Place your left hand behind your head so your thumb is behind
your left ear. Place your right arm along the floor beside you. Bring your
elbow out to the side and round it slightly inward. Tilt your chin so your chin
and your chest are a few inches apart. Pull your abdominals in. See photo A
.

The exercise
As you curl your head, neck, and shoulder blades off the floor, twist your torso to the right, bringing your left shoulder toward your right knee. (Your elbow won’t actually touch your knee.) Lower back down. Do all the repetitions on one side and then switch to the other side. See photo B.

Do’s and don’ts

• DO concentrate on rotating from your middle instead of simply moving your elbows toward your knees.
• DO keep both hips squarely on the ground as you twist to protect your lower back.

Other options

• Legs-up crunch with a twist (harder): Lift your bent knees off the floor and cross one ankle over the other.
• Straight-arm crunch with a twist (harder): Reach for your opposite knee with your arm straight rather than your elbow bent. Reach past the outside edge of your knee.