• High challenge-to-compression ratio
    • Crunch with feet anchored
    • Crunch with feet free
    • Bicycle crunch
    • Hanging straight leg raise
  • Low compression, lower challenge
    • Crunch with feet anchored
    • Crunch with feet free
  • High challenge, higher compression
    • Straight-leg sit-up
    • Bent-leg sit-up
  • Low challenge-to-compression ratio
    (not recommended!)

    • Supine straight-leg raise
    • Supine bent-leg raise
    • Hanging bent-leg raise
    • Static cross-knee crunch

The core muscles lie deep within the torso and opposed to isolating a specific joint as in weight lifting, stabilizing the core focuses on working these deep muscles of the entire torso at once.  Abdominal bracing is the primary technique used during core exercise training, referring to the contraction of the abdominal muscles.

Mark Verstegen, sports-performance expert, in his invaluable book, Core Performance, calls the torso the pillar and likens the core to the hub of a wheel where the limbs are the spokes.  He goes on to say that,

“Pillar strength is the foundation of movement and consists of core, hip, and shoulder stability.  If you lack pillar strength, specifically hip stability, the energy leaks out at the hip and the body must compensate.  More pressure is placed down toward the knees and up toward the lower back, which over time can cause degenerative problems.”

CrunchBase Information
Weightview
Information provided by CrunchBase