Sit-Up

Technique

The sit-up lifts the whole torso from lying flat to sitting upright, so it trains the abs together with the hip flexors through a much longer range than a crunch. Bending the knees and keeping the movement slow puts more of the work on the abs and less strain on the lower back.

Steps

1. Lie on your back with knees bent and feet flat, hands crossed on your chest or lightly at your temples
2. Brace your abs and curl your head and shoulders off the floor first
3. Keep curling up until your torso is upright over your hips
4. Lower back down one vertebra at a time until your shoulders touch the floor

Common mistakes

• Pulling on the neck with the hands
• Throwing the torso up with momentum and dropping back down

Variations

• Decline sit-up on a bench
• Weighted sit-up holding a plate on the chest

FAQ