What's the difference between Sit Ups and Crunches and how are they different?

Question

What is the difference between Crunches and Sit-Ups? How EXACTLY do you perform each exercise? Which is better for the abdominals, Crunches or Sit-Ups? Which part of the abdominals do the crunches work out? the Sit-Ups? Also how would you work out the lower abdominals? How do you do a "Reverse Crunch"?

Thanks if you answer these =]

Answer 1

Sit ups involve a wider range of motion.

*Lay flat on the floor.

*Contract (bend) your upper body up at the waist into a sitting position.

*Bend your knees before doing the sit up movement, and it should be easier on your lower back.

*Your arms should be crossed in front of you, or the hands may be slid along your sides (just off of the floor) as you sit up.

Crunches are the contraction of the abdominal (stomach ?) muscles.

*Lay flat on the floor.

*Curl your legs by bending your knees as far aback as they'll COMFORTABLY go. Bend your legs at the hip until your thighs are at about 90 degrees (perpendicular) to the floor.

*Cross your arms in front of your chest, and imagine that you are holding an orange under your chin.

*Curl your abdominal (stomach) muscles enough so that your shoulder blades rise just a bit off of the floor.

Crunches can be done with little, if any peripheral muscular strains or injuries.

Sit ups could aggravate lower back issues, and strain the neck, lower back, etc. if not done correctly or if done too often (overuse issues).

Good luck, I hope this helps.

(;=]

Answer 2

I'm sure you know the difference in form between the two, but I'll go through the whole spiel anyway... Sit-ups: knees bent, arms crossed across the chest, you "sit up" until your elbows or chest touches your knees. Crunches: Many different ways to perform a crunch, one of the most popular being knees bent (feet either flat on the ground or in the air), arms crossed across the chest, and "crunching" just enough to get your shoulders/shoulderblades off the floor and contract your abdominals. As for the muscles they work, sit-ups actually work the hip flexors more than the abdominals, and yes, they can have adverse effects on the back and spine. Crunches work mostly the abdominal muscles and can also work the obliques. If I were you, I would stick to crunches and their many variations.

Answer 3

Sit ups you go completely up to your knees. Crunches are just where your back is 8-11 inches off the ground.

Answer 4

A sit-up is exactly like you'd expect. Exactly what you're thinking of when you think of a sit-up. A crunch is where you lay down in the sit-up position, and you curl your shoulders forward slowly so as your half way through a sit-up...hold it...then lay back down. they're kinda like half-held sit-ups.

Answer 5

Crunches are a little easier on the back and specifically target the abs

Answer 6

sit ups you go all the way down and crunches you go half way down...