Can’t do a sit-up? A personal trainer recommends these three alternative exercises to strengthen your abs

A woman performs assisted sit-ups in a park. Her feet are hooked under a metal pole, her knees are bent and she is sitting up with her hands clasped behind her head. She is smiling broadly; behind her we see a sandy area and grass.

Many of my personal training clients list performing a full sit-up as one of their fitness goals. This gym class throwback may be a basic and well-known exercise, but it’s hardly an easy one.

Sit-ups require optimal strength in nearly all of your core muscles, specifically the rectus abdominis (also known as the six pack), the transverse abdomins (the deepest abdominal muscle), and the internal and external obliques (muscles located on each side of the torso). When these muscles aren’t properly conditioned, executing proper form on a sit-up is nearly impossible.