This form of crunch will not actually make your arms longer but will add extra resistance to a simple, yet effective, abdominal exercise.

Start by laying on your back with your legs bent at 90 degrees and your feet on the ground.

Extend your arms out above your head and cross them at the hands, this will now form a cradle that will support your head and neck.

Now breathing with this is very important.  Take a deep breath and hold it as you raise your torso off the ground, now exhale all the air and now lower your torso back onto the ground.  During this phase of the crunch remember to try to keep your stomach nice and tight by drawing your belly button in towards your spine (easier said then done though).

Variations of this exercise:

EASIER: Don’t extend your arms out above your head and cup your head in your hands.

HARDER: Hold a weight in your hands whilst still having them extended past your head.

FOR THOSE WITH SADOMACHOCHISTIC TENDENCIES:

Balance a weight on you feet whilst keeping them just off the ground and hold a weight in your hands and when you have completed a rep, make sure your shoulders don’t quite touch the ground thus keeping a high degree of tension on the abs at all times.

REMEMBER: If anything doesn’t feel right with your back or neck, stop the exercise immediately.