Neck pain when doing ab workout

[PeasandCucumbers]

I have pretty crap core muscles and really want to tighten up my tummy. I have been planking (currently doing 75 secs) and did a Joe Wickes 5 mins abs this evening. With any ab exercise on my back my neck hurts before my abs do. I know this is sometimes put down to bad form but I want to know if it can also be that my neck muscles need to work more than usual and will get stronger as I keep doing the ab workouts. Or is it just that I am doing something wrong? I don’t think I am. I really concentrate on form, breathing, keeping lower back on the floor etc.

Anyone got any experience of neck pain improving as you got stronger?

Yes it will get easier, at the moment your abs are weak and so you're straining your neck as you do them
With the momentum. Try not to, but it's easier said than done! As your core gets stronger, it will ease. If your abs don't feel anything at all post workout then you need to adjust your technique

When I first started doing ab workouts, i would also have these neck pains, which was down to myself using the majority of my upper body to carry out a movement, instead of using my abdominal muscles. Once I improved on my technique and followed some steps on what to do and what not to do, my abs have gotten stronger and neck pain is gone.

The best thing for me is to focus on one spot on the ceiling throughout the movement, which prevents my chin from making contact with my chest. I restrain from using my head to help me complete a movement, which meant my crunches were not as high reaching compared to when I used my head, but it meant neck pain was reduced.

I'd switch up your ab workout so you don't have to work your neck as much. I'm not a fan of Joe Wickes so I don't know what his workout is and how it might involve your neck so much. Leg lowers and dead bug don't need your neck so much, those are just off the top of my head, you'll probably find a bunch more online.