If you want to activate more of the upper abdominal muscles than the bent-knee reverse crunch does, you can try a standard reverse crunch, also known as a leg lift with hip raise. Chron claims this exercise activates the “six-pack” muscles, obliques, hip flexors, quadriceps, and adductors. Verywell Fit considers this another beginner ab workout. It’s similar to the bent-knee reverse crunch in that you have to lie on your back to do it, so it’s safe to do if you have neck pain. It just involves one additional step.
While lying on your back, place your hands under your butt and lift your legs up toward the ceiling, keeping the knees bent slightly, as LivestrongWoman demonstrates. When your thighs are at a 90-degree angle, raise your hips toward the ceiling. This move should lift your butt off the ground a few inches. Then, drop your hips back to the ground, followed by your legs, and repeat. Be sure to keep your heels off the ground the entire time to keep the core engaged.
Having neck pain doesn’t mean you can’t do ab workouts from home. Planks, bent-knee reverse crunches, and reverse crunches are among the many ab exercises you can perform that are safe for bad necks. Just be sure to face the ground during those planks to ensure a straight spine, and keep the core engaged throughout all the exercises to get the best results.
Post source: The List
