Stability Ball Crunch

A classic core builder that utilizes an unstable surface to recruit more muscle fibers. It primarily strengthens the upper abdominals and improves spinal stability.

Exercise Details

Level
Beginner
Body Area
core
Type
core
Required Equipment
Target Muscle Groups
Primary
Secondary

Setup

Lie back on a stability ball with your feet firmly planted on the ground. Ensure the ball is positioned under your mid-to-lower back with your knees bent at 90 degrees.

Instructions

1. Brace your core and lift your shoulder blades off the ball by contracting your abs.
2. Focus on bringing your ribcage toward your pelvis.
3. Hold the peak contraction for a second.
4. Slowly return to the start with full control.
5. Keep neck neutral.

Common Mistakes

1. Excessive hip movement.
2. Performing the movement too fast.
3. Lack of full range of motion at the top.

Alternative Exercises

Wipers
Intermediate / Bodyweight-only / Abs / isolation
An advanced rotational core exercise targeting the obliques and transverse abdominis. It builds extreme rotational control and stability.
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Weighted Crunch
Intermediate / Dumbbells / Abs / core
A resistance-based abdominal exercise designed to build muscle thickness. Adding weight forces the rectus abdominis to work harder against gravity for maximum hypertrophy.
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