BEAUTY
How Do Crunches And Planks Stack Up Against Each Other?
By CYNTHIA ANAYA
Two of the most popular ways to strengthen your core are doing crunches and planks. The good thing about these exercises is that you can do them anywhere and no equipment is needed; however, there are a few differences between these moves, and may target different muscles.
There are several variations of a crunch, but they all work the rectus abdominis muscle, commonly known as the six-pack muscles. Crunches can tone the front ab muscles and oblique muscles; however, there is a high risk of hurting your lower back if you do this exercise incorrectly.
Planks have several variations, like the straight-arm plank and forearm plank to name a few; planks strengthen the same muscles as crunches, but they also work the transversus abdominis muscles, back muscles, hip flexors, hamstrings, and glutes. Most personal trainers recommend planks over crunches because planks require more muscle activation.