Abdominal Trunk Curl

strengthencore

A video demonstration is coming soon. Follow the step-by-step instructions below.

How to do it

  1. Lie supine with a small roll under the knees.
  2. Tilt the pelvis to flatten the lower back on the table by pulling up and in with the lower abdominal muscles.
  3. With arms extended forward, raise the head and shoulders from the table.
  4. Raise the upper trunk as high as the back will bend - do NOT come to a full sitting position.

Form cues

  • Only the trunk-curl phase - avoid full sit-ups which shorten the hip flexors
  • Progress resistance: arms folded across chest, then hands behind head

Dosage

Daily; hold the curl several seconds, ~10 reps; build endurance

Muscles worked

rectus abdominis β€” anatomical illustration
rectus abdominisAnatomical illustration from Z-Anatomy (derived from BodyParts3D), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
external oblique β€” anatomical illustration
external obliqueAnatomical illustration derived from BodyParts3D, Β© The Database Center for Life Science, licensed under CC BY-SA.

Strengthens: rectus abdominis, external oblique, lower abdominals

Target muscles

Reference: Kendall, Muscles Testing & Function 5th ed p.209