{"id":661323,"date":"2026-10-30T04:42:11","date_gmt":"2026-10-30T04:42:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/661323\/"},"modified":"2026-10-30T04:42:11","modified_gmt":"2026-10-30T04:42:11","slug":"planks-vs-crunches-which-is-better-for-core-strength-and-definition","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/661323\/","title":{"rendered":"Planks vs. Crunches: Which Is Better for Core Strength and Definition?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Fact checked by Nick Blackmer<\/p>\n

Why this matters: Planks are better for overall core strength, while crunches have an edge for ab definition.<\/p>\n

What you can do: Focus on one exercise depending on your goals, or add both to your routine.<\/p>\n

The payoff: Beyond aesthetics, building a stronger core can improve your balance, stability, and everyday movement.<\/p>\n

Planks and crunches are both classic core exercises, but is one of them superior? Here\u2019s how they compare for ab strength and definition.<\/p>\n

Which Is Better for Core Strength?<\/p>\n

When it comes to building strength, experts agree that planks<\/a> take the win.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Planks require you to contract your core and glutes to hold a static position, activating \u201cthe entire core from every angle,\u201d\u00a0Noam Tamir, CSCS<\/a>, founder and CEO of TS Fitness in New York City, told HEALTH. That includes your transverse abdominis<\/a>, the deepest layer of your abs.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, crunches\u2014which involve bending your spine forward\u2014work the hip flexors<\/a>, lower back, and parts of the abs, including the transverse abdominis and obliques<\/a> (the muscles on each side of your abdomen), Tamir said.<\/p>\n

The key difference is that crunches mainly target the rectus abdominis (the classic \u201csix-pack\u201d) muscle. Unlike planks, \u201ccrunches mostly focus on the surface-level abs,\u201d he explained.<\/p>\n

Which Is Better for Ab Definition?<\/p>\n

Experts said crunches are more likely to deliver a defined six-pack than planks, especially when paired with weights.<\/p>\n

\u201cRepeated spinal flexion creates direct tension and mechanical loading on this muscle, stimulating growth,\u201d Or Artzi, CPT<\/a>, a lead group fitness instructor at Equinox and creator of the fitness platform Orriors, told HEALTH.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s not the case with planks, which involve muscle contraction but no movement, Tamir added.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Artizi also noted that proper nutrition plays just as important a role in getting chiseled abs as targeted exercise does.<\/p>\n

How to Get the Most Out of Both Exercises<\/p>\n

Instead of choosing, experts said it\u2019s best to incorporate both exercises into your workout routine. \u201cIf tolerated without discomfort, [crunches] complement planks,\u201d Artzi said.<\/p>\n

How to do a crunch:<\/p>\n

Lie on your back with your knees bent and feet flat.<\/p>\n

Place your hands across your chest or behind your head.<\/p>\n

Engage your core, and lift your head, neck, and shoulders, keeping your lower back on the floor.<\/p>\n

Make it easier: Lift less, or put your hands behind your glutes for more leverage.<\/p>\n

Make it harder: Add a stability ball or try variations like decline crunches or captain\u2019s chair crunches.<\/p>\n

How to do a plank:<\/p>\n

Start on your hands and knees, with your wrists under your shoulders.<\/p>\n

Step your feet back to form a straight line from your shoulders to your heels, while activating your abs.<\/p>\n

Make it easier: Keep your knees on the ground.<\/p>\n

Make it harder: Try variations like side planks, weighted planks, walking planks, or lifting one arm and\/or leg at a time.<\/p>\n

Read the original article on Health<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Fact checked by Nick Blackmer Why this matters: Planks are better for overall core strength, while crunches have…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":661324,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[37],"tags":[589,163,85,46],"class_list":["post-661323","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-fitness","tag-fitness","tag-health","tag-il","tag-israel"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/661323","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=661323"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/661323\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/661324"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=661323"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=661323"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=661323"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}