abdominal crunches & back ache

[JeffK]

I do oblique & straight crunches most mornings lying on my back with both my hips & knees flexed at 90deg & my calves/feet resting on my sofa. (see attachment if this isn't clear)

I do them in this position to make sure I use the abs instead of the psoas & rectus femoris (hip flexors).

This does work the abs quite well, but I often find that the upper lumbar part of my back begins to ache before my abs. It doesn’t feel like the sort of ache caused by working a muscle hard, it feels more like there’s something not right & that I might be causing myself problems. I’ve tried statically contracting my abs (as in core stability exercises) before starting the crunches & it seems to help, but not all the time.

Any comments or advice, anyone?

TIA, Jeff

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