The seated side crunch (wall) is an abdominal exercise performed while sitting on the floor with your back against a wall. It targets the abs and obliques by having you lean side to side, bringing your elbow toward your hip.
Quick Facts
How to Do Seated Side Crunch (wall)
Follow these step-by-step instructions to perform Seated Side Crunch (wall) with proper form and technique.
- Sit on the floor with your back against a wall and your legs extended in front of you.
- Bend your knees and place your feet flat on the floor, hip-width apart.
- Place your hands behind your head with your elbows pointing outwards.
- Engage your abs and lean to one side, bringing your elbow towards your hip.
- Pause for a moment, then return to the starting position.
- Repeat on the other side.
- Continue alternating sides for the desired number of repetitions.
Muscles Worked
Understanding which muscles Seated Side Crunch (wall) targets helps you integrate it effectively into your training program.
Target Muscles
These are the main muscles responsible for performing the movement and receive the greatest training stimulus.
Secondary Muscles
These muscles assist in the movement and receive secondary training benefits.
Benefits of Seated Side Crunch (wall)
Incorporating Seated Side Crunch (wall) into your workout routine offers numerous advantages for strength, muscle development, and overall fitness.
- Abs Development: Seated Side Crunch (wall) directly targets and strengthens the Abs, promoting muscle growth and improved functional strength.
- Secondary Muscle Engagement: This exercise also works the Obliques, providing additional training stimulus without extra exercises.
- Convenience and Accessibility: This exercise requires no equipment, making it perfect for home workouts, travel, or when gym access is limited.
- Functional Strength: Strength exercises like Seated Side Crunch (wall) build real-world strength that transfers to daily activities and athletic performance.
- Beginner-Friendly: This exercise is accessible to those new to fitness, with a movement pattern that's relatively easy to learn with proper instruction.
Safety Tips and Precautions
Performing Seated Side Crunch (wall) safely is essential for preventing injuries and ensuring long-term progress.
- Warm Up Properly: Before performing Seated Side Crunch (wall), complete 5-10 minutes of light cardio followed by dynamic stretches targeting the Abs and surrounding muscles.
- Prioritize Form Over Weight: Never sacrifice proper technique for heavier weights. Poor form significantly increases injury risk and reduces the exercise's effectiveness.
- Progress Gradually: Master easier progressions before attempting advanced variations. Ensure your supporting surface is stable.
- Respect Your Range of Motion: Work within your current mobility limits. Gradually improve flexibility over time rather than forcing deeper positions.
- Don't Hold Your Breath: Maintain consistent breathing throughout the exercise. Exhale during the exertion phase and inhale during the easier phase.
- Know When to Stop: End your set when you can no longer maintain proper form. Training to absolute failure on every set increases injury risk.
- Allow Adequate Recovery: The Abs typically need 48-72 hours to recover after intense training. Avoid training the same muscle group on consecutive days.
Tracking Your Progress
To make consistent gains with Seated Side Crunch (wall), track these metrics during your workouts:
Track the number of sets you complete. Most training programs recommend 3-5 sets per exercise.
Record your repetitions per set. Adjust rep ranges based on your goals: 1-5 for strength, 6-12 for hypertrophy, 12+ for endurance.