Core · Bodyweight
Crunch
How to do the crunch, the muscles it works, and the mistakes to avoid. Pulled straight from the Kovo app's exercise library.
- Equipment
- Bodyweight
- Difficulty
- Beginner
- Logged as
- Weighted reps
- Movement
- Core Hold
- Mechanic
- Accessory
See it in motion
How to do it
Lie on your back with knees bent. Lift your shoulders off the floor by engaging your core, and lower back down.
- 1Feel your upper abs curling your ribcage toward your pelvis
- 2Maintain tension in your core by keeping your lower back on the mat
- 3Exhale as you crunch to intensify the contraction
Common mistakes
- Avoid pulling on your neck or yanking your head up
- Don't let your feet lift or use momentum
- Avoid arching your lower back during the movement
Muscles worked
The crunch mainly works the upper abs and lower abs, with the obliques assisting.
- Upper AbsPrimary
- Lower AbsPrimary
- ObliquesSupport
- QuadsMinor
Kovo programs the crunch for you and tracks it every session.
The AI builds your whole program, drops the right lifts into each workout, and adjusts your weights as you get stronger. Free on iOS and Android.
More abs & core exercises
- How to do the ab wheel rollout
- How to do the bicycle crunches
- How to do the cable crunch
- How to do the cable pallof press
- How to do the woodchop
- How to do the captains chair leg raise
Last reviewed April 2026.