Machine Crunch
CoreIsolationCoreMachineBeginner
Guided machine crunch that lets you load weight progressively to strengthen the rectus abdominis.
Visual guide
Reference photo — start and end of the movement.
How to perform
- 1.Adjust the seat and select the load.
- 2.Hold the handles and rest your chest against the pad.
- 3.Curl your trunk down, contracting your abs.
- 4.Return under control, resisting the weight without over-extending.
Common mistakes
- ●Pulling with the arms instead of the abs
- ●Using too much load and losing range
- ●Letting the weight drop on the negative
- ●Extending the back on the return
Proper technique
Initiate the movement from the abs, not the arms. Exhale as you flex the trunk. Control the eccentric phase to maintain tension.
Variants
Other exercises that work the same primary muscle.
muscle map
primary
secondary
Primary
- Rectus abdominis
Secondary
- Obliques
- Transverse abdominis