"There's still a fairly common belief among a lot of gym goers that core strength equates to sit-ups and crunches. Whether you were taught that in phys ed class or you've seen countless influencers instructing "correct" alignment in these classic exercises, the myth continues. But sit-ups and crunches aren't the most effective or even safest core-strengthening exercises for the abdominals and other supportive muscles."
"There are several reasons sit-ups aren't effective ab exercise s. Perhaps the most defining one is they're difficult to perform without relying on momentum to assist you on the way up and gravity to help you on the way down. Although this makes the exercise easier, it also cheats you out of muscle strengthening if you're opting for these instead of other core-strengthening exercises."
Many gym goers equate core strength with sit-ups and crunches, but those exercises are not the most effective or safest for the abdominals and supportive muscles. Effective core training combines static holds and dynamic movement to strengthen and stabilize all core muscles. Sit-ups are difficult to perform without using momentum and gravity, which reduces muscle strengthening and shifts work to the hip flexors. Studies show sit-ups activate hip flexors more than the abdominals. The US Army removed sit-ups from its fitness test in 2020. Crunches use a partial spinal curl that limits hip flexor involvement and better isolates the abs.
Read at Yoga Journal
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