A strong core is important for a variety of reasons. It helps you maintain your posture and balance; it aids you when you need to lift something heavy; and, perhaps most importantly, it prevents you from having back problems. Ab exercises can help you increase the strength of your core. However, exercises that require you to lie on your back and lift your shoulders off the ground, like crunches, put significant strain on your neck. If you have a weak neck, there are other ab exercises you can do.
Vacuum Stomach Exercise
The vacuum stomach exercise is the ultimate ab exercise for anyone with a weak neck. Bodybuilders have been using it for years to shrink their waists. This exercise can also be done anytime, anywhere. Stand straight with correct posture and exhale until all the air is out of your lungs. Take a long, deep breath and suck in your stomach as far as you can, then hold it for 20 to 60 seconds. Repeat two times.
Reverse Crunches
When you do a reverse crunch, your shoulders and neck remain flat on the floor so you do not put any strain on your neck. Reverse crunches, just like ordinary crunches, target your rectus abdominis, more commonly known as your abs. Lie on the floor or an exercise mat with your knees bent. Rest your arms out to your side and keep your back flat against the ground. Keeping your knees bent, raise your legs to form a 90-degree angle. Slowly raise your hips off the ground while gently exhaling, and curl your spine toward your chest. Lower your hips back toward the ground while slowly inhaling. Keep your core contracted throughout the movement.
Standing Oblique Twists
Standing oblique twists strengthen your obliques without putting any strain on your neck. Stand with your feet firmly planted on the ground, slightly more than shoulder-width apart. Keep your posture straight and raise your arms out to your sides. Begin rotating your torso side to side, keeping your arms straight. Focus on maintaining a tight core. Each time one of your arms goes forward, exhale. Keep this movement up for as long as you can.
Dumbbell Side Bend
This is another standing exercise that targets your obliques. Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart, holding a dumbbell in one hand. Lower the dumbbell to knee level by bending to the side while inhaling. Exhale as you come back up and bend to the opposite side. Perform eight to 12 repetitions on each side for a total of three sets.
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