Crunches count in the tower and in the arena like the other exercises: each full rep hits the monster in front of you.
How to do a crunch the camera will count
Lie on your back with your knees bent, curl your shoulders up toward your knees, then roll back down. The phone stands to your side at hip level. Pushgard counts the rep when your shoulders travel far enough and your legs stay put.
Counted
Travel is measured as a share of your torso length. The line on the shoulder bar is the counter’s minimum: 22%.
Four steps, one clean crunch
The abdominals do most of the work, with help from the hip flexors.
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1Lie down
On your back, knees bent, feet flat on the floor. Hands lightly at your temples or crossed on your chest.
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2Curl up
Tighten your stomach and curl your shoulders off the floor toward your knees. Your lower back stays down.
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3Top
Stop when your shoulder blades are off the floor. Breathe out at the top; the work is in your abs, not your neck.
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4Lower
Roll back down slowly until your shoulders touch the floor. That position starts the next rep.
What breaks a crunch, and what to try instead
Common mistakes
- Pulling on your head moves your chin, not your shoulders. Keep your hands light and look at the ceiling.
- Swinging your knees toward your chest feels like a crunch and isn’t one. Keep your feet on the floor.
- Straightening your legs shifts the work away from your abs. Keep your knees bent the whole set.
- Dropping back down fast wastes half the rep. Lower with control.
Easier
Arms reaching forward along your thighs, or a smaller range while you build up. Keep the shoulders moving, though: the counter needs them to travel.
Harder
Hands crossed on your chest or at your temples, a one-second squeeze at the top, and a slow count on the way down.
Phone to the side, at hip level
Crunches are read in profile, so lie sideways to the phone.
The camera reads the angle between your torso and thighs and how close your shoulders come to your knees. Two signals, like every exercise in the game.
The counter also checks which part of the body moved. Your shoulders have to travel at least 22% of your torso length, and your knees no more than three times as far as your shoulders. That is what stops leg swings and neck pulls from counting.
How counting works All four exercises
This page explains technique; it is not medical advice. If you have an injury, a heart condition or pain during the movement, check with a doctor or physiotherapist first, and stop a set that hurts.
Crunches, answered
Framing, missed reps and your feet.
Where does the phone go for crunches?
To your side, at hip level, so the camera sees you in profile. Lie on your back with your knees bent; the app checks this before the set starts.
Why was a crunch not counted?
Your shoulders have to travel far enough toward your knees: at least 22% of your torso length. Pulling your head forward or swinging your legs doesn’t move the shoulders, so those reps don’t pass.
Should I hold my feet down?
You don’t need to. Holding your feet down turns the crunch toward a sit-up, where the hip flexors do more. Keep your knees bent and your feet flat on their own.
Sources
- Escamilla RF et al., 2006. An electromyographic analysis of commercial and common abdominal exercises. Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy 36(2).
Free on iPhone and Android
Your first crunch hits a slime
Put the phone at your side, lie down and do one set.