{"id":10521,"date":"2025-10-16T15:59:41","date_gmt":"2025-10-16T21:59:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/howtobefit.com\/coach-blog\/?p=10521"},"modified":"2025-10-16T15:59:41","modified_gmt":"2025-10-16T21:59:41","slug":"best-ab-exercises-that-arent-crunches","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/howtobefit.com\/coach-blog\/2025\/10\/16\/best-ab-exercises-that-arent-crunches\/","title":{"rendered":"Best Ab Exercises That Aren\u2019t Crunches"},"content":{"rendered":"

The best ab exercises that aren\u2019t crunches are the ones that zone in on more than just the six-pack abs muscles or rectus abdominis.\u00a0K. Aleisha Fetters, C.S.C.S.<\/a><\/strong> has a great article with the 10 best ab exercises that aren’t crunches. Scroll down to check it out.<\/p>\n

\"Best<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s get real: When it comes to ab workouts, there\u2019s nothing more boring than churning out crunches. Set after set. Workout after workout.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s why the best ab exercises aren\u2019t crunches.<\/p>\n

And that\u2019s why so many\u00a0BODi programs<\/a>\u00a0include a variety of ab exercises\u00a0other than\u00a0just crunches.<\/p>\n

And ditching (or at least cutting down on) crunches might do more than eliminate your workout\u2019s yawn factor. It could actually boost your fitness results, explains strength coach and physical therapist\u00a0Michael Roncarati<\/a>, P.T., D.P.T., C.S.C.S., director of rehabilitation for the Atlanta Hawks.<\/p>\n

After all, while crunches zone in on your\u00a0rectus abominis<\/a>\u00a0(aka \u201csix-pack\u201d) muscles, they come up short when it comes to training your transverse abdominis and other deep-lying core muscles.<\/p>\n

Those are the muscles that stabilize your spine; keep your pelvis, ribs, and shoulder girdle in proper alignment; and help you transfer forces between your lower and upper body for improved exercise performance, Roncarati says.<\/p>\n

Yeah,\u00a0you could say that\u00a0your core is kind of important.<\/p>\n

What\u2019s more, research shows that\u00a0crunches can contribute to low-back pain<\/a>\u00a0by compressing the discs of the lumbar spine.<\/p>\n

\u201cDepending on your current back health, it\u2019s important to be aware that typical crunches can exacerbate problems,\u201d says strength coach\u00a0Todd Durkin<\/a>, C.S.C.S., who has trained top athletes, including the NFL\u2019s Reggie Bush and snowboarder Shaun White.<\/p>\n

He notes that crunches can trigger\u00a0back pain by increasing tightness in the hip flexor \u2014 which, in most people, especially desk-bound exercisers, tends to already be pretty tight.<\/p>\n

Tight hip flexors tug on the pelvis, tilting it forward. That, in turn, increases the strain on the lower back.\u00a0No bueno.<\/p>\n

So if you aren\u2019t training your core with crunches (or at least with crunches alone), what ab exercises should you do to hit your six-pack fitness\u00a0goals? Start with\u00a010 of the\u00a0best ab exercises listed below.<\/p>\n

After that, head to\u00a0BODi<\/a>\u00a0for even more ab workouts and full programs that can whip your entire body into top shape.<\/p>\n

1.\u00a0Pallof\u00a0Press<\/h2>\n

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