29
Abdominal Exercises
Lying Trunk Rotation
Twisting Side Crunch
START ACTION
START
• Lie back flat on the bench and
place one hand behind the head
of the involved side.
• Place legs behind the roller pads
for added support, as shown.
• Your back can start flat against
the bench or in a normal arch.
• Tighten your abs and move in a
diagonal direction, slowly moving
your ribs to the opposite hip.
• The lower back should not lose
contact with the bench when fully
crunched.
• Slowly reverse the motion to the
starting position without relaxing
the abdominal muscles.
FINISH
START ACTION
START
• Lie flat on the bench.
• Bend your hips and knees to
approximately 90 degrees.
• Keep your chest lifted, abs tight
and a slight arch in your low
back.
• Hold onto the sides of the bench.
• Tighten the entire abdominal
area and slowly rotate your legs
and hips to one side.
• Move slow and controlled, being
careful not to let your legs and
hips rotate uncontrolled to the
side.
• Move back to the starting
position.
• Work one side to fatigue and then
do the opposite side.
FINISH
Muscles worked
Deep spinal and trunk muscles
Bench position
Flat
Success tips
• This is an important exercise but can
become high risk if done incorrectly.
• Keep the chest lifted and always
maintain a good spinal alignment with
a very slight arch in the lower back.
• More range of motion is not
necessarily better, especially in this
exercise.
• Move only as far as your muscles
can take you. Try to eliminate
uncontrolled momentum.
Muscles worked
Obliques and rectus abdominus
Bench position
Flat
Success tips
• Allow exhalation up and inhalation
down.
• Your head should follow the motion
of the rib cage. Maintain normal neck
posture.
• Move slowly to eliminate momentum.
• Move as far as you can without moving
your hips or neck.