Vertical Leg Crunch

When it comes to finding exercise routines that can flatten stomach muscles, many of the results people will come up with will be variations on the traditional crunch. One such variation, the Vertical Leg Crunch, should make the normal crunch a bit more difficult and, therefore, should be more effective in terms of toning and strengthening.

The Vertical Leg Crunch is relatively simple. The user lies flat on the floor on his or her back. Raising both legs straight up into the air, he or she should be sure to bend them slightly at the knees. With his or her hands behind the head, the individual then contracts his or her abdominal muscles, leaning forward just enough to bring the shoulder blades off the floor. Participants should also be careful to not use their necks to lean forward and to make sure that their legs remain still. Again, the Vertical Leg Crunch is a variation of the old fashioned crunch that will, in various ways, be harder than the original routine. This exercise can flatten stomach muscles in various regions of the abdomen, including the rectus abdominis in the center of the midsection and the obliques along the sides.