Cable Crunch Exercise Guide
Reviewed by
Valerie Zeller
Printable version
Cable Crunch is a strength exercise that works your abs.
Cable Crunch is a great basic move. When done correctly, it can effectively target your core and waist.
It requires weight machine to do.
How to do Cable Crunch
Setup
Kneel below heavy pulley. Grasp cable loop connection with both paws. Put wrists against ear. Place hips back and rotate knees, causing pressure on cable pulley to raise body upward so spine becomes hyperextended.
Exercise
With hips stationary, flex waist so elbows travel toward middle of thighs. Return and repeat.
Tips
Note movement occurs in waist, not hips. Hyperextension of spine at top of motion is achieved by anterior rotation of pelvis with flexed hips. Certain individuals may need to keep their neck in neutral position with space between their chin and sternum. If two soft stirrups are used instead of rope attachment, grasp stirrups at side of head. Movement can also be performed standing up, see Cable Standing Overhead Crunch.
Keep arms fixed in position keeping them close to body throughout movement.
Illustrated Guide
Learn how to do cable crunch from this step-by-step illustrations:
Muscles Worked
The muscles used for cable crunch may change slightly based on the your trained range of motion and technique, but in the most general case, the muscles used for cable crunch are:
Primary Muscles
- Abs
Synergyst Muscles
- Obliques
Frequently Asked Questions
Training, Progressions and Regressions
Interested in how to improve your Cable Crunch faster?
Cable Crunch Training and Progressions
Standards and Averages
Wonder how do others perform in Cable Crunch and how should you?
Cable Crunch Standards and Averages
Alternatives
Wonder how to work the same muscles with other exercises?
Variations
Wonder how to make Cable Crunch either easier or more challenging?
Discover more
Classification
| Type(s) | Strength, Isolated, Aerobic, Cardio, Endurance |
| Muscles Worked | Abdominals, Obliques |
| Difficulty Level(s) | Basic, Easy |
| Equipment | Weight Machine |
| Location | At Gym |
| Major Exercise | Ab Crunches |
