Make It Count

Poor form when you're doing ab exercises doesn't just lead to neck pain — it can make the exercises less effective overall. If you're straining your neck muscles, your abs aren't working as hard as they should be. Remember: Other muscles aren't invited to this party — your abs should be doing all the work. Make sure you're exhaling fully and really squeezing those abs as you come up into the crunch; and when you come back down, don't release the tension in your abs. To get results, you want a constant contraction of the muscles.