You've probably felt your neck tense and sore while clearly working out your abs, haven't you? If not addressed early, it will lead to dangerous consequences.
Here are some helpful tips to prevent neck pain during ab workouts for you!
First, let's understand what Crunch is?
Crunch is an exercise performed lying on your back, using your back, aimed at training the lower abdominal muscles, helping to tone and reduce fat in this area.

People often forget that crunches bring many benefits. They help increase the endurance of the lower abs, which may sound weird but lower abs are really important.
You may not realize it, but you almost always use your lower abs even when sitting on a chair. Clearly, the lower abs are essential for everyday activities. In addition to trying to exercise with correct form, there are many ways to help you avoid neck pain during ab workouts. First, make sure you're doing core-strengthening exercises.
Strength is essential for Crunches without endurance. You can substitute with other exercises like: High knees, Right side plank with leg lifts, Bicycle, Leg raises… or Planks are the key to a beautiful abs.
Without further ado, here are the top 4 most important things you need to remember when performing Crunches:
Avoid holding your head or neck
When you consistently hold your head throughout the workout, there will be a pushing force on your head forward, and that is very dangerous to your neck. Continuously pushing the head forward not only distracts from focusing on the core muscles but also causes your neck to 'scream'.

Tension can lead to serious consequences after your workout. Instead of holding your head behind, try keeping your hands beside it or lightly touching it (just behind the ears).
Maintaining the distance between chin and chest
Ensure that the distance between your chest and chin is balanced. Try to imagine that you're holding a small ball, a rolled-up towel, or anything, as long as you can maintain the distance consistently throughout the exercise.

Seek
Look up at the ceiling or sky (if you're working out outdoors) to ensure you can maintain the necessary distance between your chest and chin. It will also help relax your head, reducing pressure on your neck as you look towards your knees.
We always tend to pull our heads forward even when we're looking straight while doing crunches. Perhaps you do this frequently without realizing it. Make sure you're seeking a focal point to look at instead of focusing on movements ahead, avoiding your head from curving forward.
Slow and steady
Faster isn't necessarily better, and sometimes it's even harder. The truth is, slow movements will engage your core muscles more effectively than pushing through quickly. Doing crunches slowly and steadily will also ensure proper form and help prevent neck pain during ab workouts.
Conclusion
By now, you've read all about maintaining form during Crunches, haven't you? Try to tighten your core to lift your body, avoiding putting too much pressure on your head and neck. The first few days may be sore, but it's a stepping stone to a 'fabulous' abs in the future. Hopefully, the article 'How to do ab workouts without neck pain' is helpful to you. Thank you and see you in the next article!
Posted by: Dung Nguyen Cong
Keywords: Top 4 Easiest Ways to Relieve Neck Pain During Ab Workouts