Oblique Crunches
A beginner isolation strength exercise that works the abs, needing no equipment.
Starting position
End position
How to Do Oblique Crunches
- Lie flat on the floor with your lower back pressed to the ground. For this exercise, you will need to put one hand beside your head and the other to the side against the floor.
- Make sure your feet are elevated and resting on a flat surface.
- Now lift the shoulder in which your hand is touching your head.
- Simply elevate your shoulder and body upward until you touch your knee. For example, if you have your right hand besides your head, then you want to elevate your body upwards until your right elbow touches your left knee. The same variation can be applied doing the inverse and using your left elbow to touch your right knee.
- After your knee touches your elbow, lower your body until you have reached the starting position.
- Remember to breathe in during the eccentric (lowering) part of the exercise and to breathe out during the concentric (upward) part of the exercise.
- Continue alternating in this manner until all of the recommended repetitions for each side have been completed.
Muscles Worked
Alternatives to Oblique Crunches
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
Oblique Crunches - On The Floor
A beginner isolation strength exercise that works the abs, needing no equipment.
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2
Crunches
Crunches are a classic abdominal exercise that isolates the rectus abdominis. When performed correctly, they're an effective way to build core strength and muscular endurance.
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3
Kneeling Cable Crunch With Alternating Oblique Twists
A beginner isolation strength exercise that works the abs, using a cable machine.
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4
Weighted Crunches
A beginner isolation strength exercise that works the abs, using a medicine ball.
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5
Decline Oblique Crunch
A beginner compound strength exercise that works the abs, needing no equipment.
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6
Barbell Side Bend
A beginner isolation strength exercise that works the abs, using a barbell.
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7
Bosu Ball Cable Crunch With Side Bends
A beginner isolation strength exercise that works the abs, using a cable machine.
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8
Cable Crunch
A beginner isolation strength exercise that works the abs, using a cable machine.
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9
Cable Judo Flip
A beginner compound strength exercise that works the abs, using a cable machine.
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10
Cable Reverse Crunch
A beginner isolation strength exercise that works the abs, using a cable machine.
Frequently Asked Questions
What muscles do oblique crunches work?
Oblique Crunches primarily works the abs.
What equipment do I need for oblique crunches?
None. Oblique Crunches is a bodyweight movement you can do anywhere you have floor space.
Oblique Crunches: is it suitable for beginners?
Yes. Oblique Crunches 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 oblique crunches?
Oblique Crunches - On The Floor, Crunches, Kneeling Cable Crunch With Alternating Oblique Twists train the same primary muscles and are listed with 7 more alternatives above.
Can Fitnit count my oblique crunches reps automatically?
Not automatically yet. Fitnit's AI rep counting covers push-ups, squats, dumbbell curls, crunches and pull-ups today; oblique crunches 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 Oblique Crunches 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.