Cable Crunch
A beginner isolation strength exercise that works the abs, using a cable machine.
Starting position
End position
How to Do Cable Crunch
- Kneel below a high pulley that contains a rope attachment.
- Grasp cable rope attachment and lower the rope until your hands are placed next to your face.
- Flex your hips slightly and allow the weight to hyperextend the lower back. This will be your starting position.
- With the hips stationary, flex the waist as you contract the abs so that the elbows travel towards the middle of the thighs. Exhale as you perform this portion of the movement and hold the contraction for a second.
- Slowly return to the starting position as you inhale. Tip: Make sure that you keep constant tension on the abs throughout the movement. Also, do not choose a weight so heavy that the lower back handles the brunt of the work.
- Repeat for the recommended amount of repetitions.
Muscles Worked
Alternatives to Cable Crunch
10 movements that train the same primary muscle, closest substitutes first — same kind of training, then variations of the movement itself, then a similar difficulty.
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1
Bosu Ball Cable Crunch With Side Bends
A beginner isolation strength exercise that works the abs, using a cable machine.
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2
Cable Reverse Crunch
A beginner isolation strength exercise that works the abs, using a cable machine.
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3
Cable Seated Crunch
A beginner isolation strength exercise that works the abs, using a cable machine.
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4
Kneeling Cable Crunch With Alternating Oblique Twists
A beginner isolation strength exercise that works the abs, using a cable machine.
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5
Cross-Body Crunch
A beginner compound strength exercise that works the abs, needing no equipment.
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6
Crunch - Hands Overhead
A beginner isolation strength exercise that works the abs, needing no equipment.
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7
Crunch - Legs On Exercise Ball
A beginner isolation strength exercise that works the abs, needing no equipment.
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8
Decline Oblique Crunch
A beginner compound strength exercise that works the abs, needing no equipment.
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9
Decline Reverse Crunch
A beginner compound strength exercise that works the abs, needing no equipment.
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10
Exercise Ball Crunch
A beginner isolation strength exercise that works the abs, using an exercise ball.
Frequently Asked Questions
What muscles do cable crunch work?
Cable Crunch primarily works the abs.
What equipment do I need for cable crunch?
Cable Crunch uses cable machine.
Cable Crunch: is it suitable for beginners?
Yes. Cable Crunch is rated beginner. Movements you can learn in a session, with a low skill floor and a forgiving failure mode.
What can I do instead of cable crunch?
Bosu Ball Cable Crunch With Side Bends, Cable Reverse Crunch, Cable Seated Crunch train the same primary muscles and are listed with 7 more alternatives above.
Can Fitnit count my cable crunch reps automatically?
Not automatically yet. Fitnit's AI rep counting covers push-ups, squats, dumbbell curls, crunches and pull-ups today; cable crunch can be logged manually in the app, and tracked movements are added over time.
Photographs and step-by-step instructions from free-exercise-db, a public-domain exercise dataset. Muscle mapping and alternatives by Fitnit.
Track Your Cable Crunch with AI
Fitnit automatically tracks push-ups, crunches, squats, pull-ups, and curls with advanced body tracking technology — and you can manually input any other workout too. Start free — Pro is $8.99/month.