Is crunch the best ab workout?

Like situps, crunches help you build muscle. But unlike situps, they work only the abdominal muscles. This intense muscle isolation makes them a popular exercise for people trying to get six-pack abs . This also makes them ideal for strengthening your core, which includes your lower back muscles and obliques.

The bottom line. The crunch is often seen as the gold standard for ab exercises . However, it only targets the abdominal muscles, so it’s not a functional core workout. Crunches can also be hard on your back and neck, so they may not be safe for everyone.26 Eyl 2019

While the humble crunch can work wonders for your core, the plank provides optimal results when it comes to aiding sports performance, rehab and general fitness. So, if you really want to maximize the benefits of your core training the increased muscle activation you get with a plank means it’s the way to go.