Side Crunch

Core

Track Side Crunch in SmartWorkout and watch your numbers go up

Log sets, weights and progress for free, with no workout limits.

Body Part: Abs

Description

The Side Crunch is an abdominal exercise targeting the oblique muscles. It involves a lateral flexion of the spine, engaging the side muscles of the abdomen to enhance core stability and definition.

How to Perform

Lie on your side on a mat with your knees bent and stacked on top of each other.
Place your bottom arm extended on the floor for support and your top hand behind your head.
Engage your core by pulling your belly button towards your spine.
Lift your upper body towards your hip, contracting your obliques.
Hold the contraction for a moment at the top of the movement.
Slowly lower back down to the starting position.
Repeat for the desired number of repetitions before switching sides.

What Muscles Work

Primary Muscle:

Tips

Focus on using your obliques to lift your torso rather than pulling with your neck or shoulders.
Keep movements controlled and avoid using momentum to ensure maximum muscle engagement.
Exhale as you crunch up and inhale as you return to the starting position.
Ensure that your neck remains in a neutral position throughout the exercise to avoid strain.
Perform the exercise slowly to maintain tension on the muscles and improve effectiveness.

Common Mistakes

Lifting the head with the neck instead of engaging the oblique muscles.
Using momentum to swing the upper body rather than controlled muscle contraction.
Allowing the lower back to lift off the floor, reducing core engagement.
Failing to keep the elbow wide, leading to shoulder strain.
Not fully engaging the obliques by twisting insufficiently towards the knee.
Pulling on the head with the hands, causing neck strain.
Neglecting to keep the core tight throughout the movement.
Performing the movement too quickly, sacrificing form for speed.