What are straight leg crunches?

Place hands behind your knees. Using the strength in your arms and your abs, lift your shoulder blades off of the floor; shoulder blades should remain above the ground for the remainder of the exercise. While holding your legs, contract your abdominal muscles and lift the chest up toward the ceiling, 10-20 times.

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Are ball crunches effective?

A study by researchers at the Department of Kinesiology at Occidental College in Los Angeles says yes. The study found that crunches performed on a stability ball (a.k.a. fitness ball or Balance Ball) boosted activation, or flexing, of abdominal muscles by 24 to 38 percent over crunches done without a ball .

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