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Exercise guide

Cable Crunch

How to do the Cable Crunch with correct form, the muscles it works, and where it fits a training plan you actually stick to.

IsolationCableBeginnerPull
Primary muscles

Abs

Secondary

,

Equipment

Cable

Step by step

How to do the Cable Crunch

  1. 1

    Kneel below a high pulley that contains a rope attachment.

  2. 2

    Grasp cable rope attachment and lower the rope until your hands are placed next to your face.

  3. 3

    Flex your hips slightly and allow the weight to hyperextend the lower back. This will be your starting position.

  4. 4

    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.

  5. 5

    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.

  6. 6

    Repeat for the recommended amount of repetitions.

In Ascend

Log it, see it on your body.

Every Cable Crunch set you log feeds Ascend's anatomy heatmap, so your abs volume is visible at a glance, and counts toward your bodyweight-strength tier.

Related

More abs exercises

FAQ

Cable Crunch: common questions

What muscles does the Cable Crunch work?

The Cable Crunch primarily works the Abs.

Is the Cable Crunch suitable for beginners?

Yes. The Cable Crunch is a beginner-level exercise, so it's a solid choice if you're new to training. Start light and focus on the movement pattern before adding load.

What equipment do I need for the Cable Crunch?

To do the Cable Crunch you'll need a cable machine.

Is the Cable Crunch a compound or isolation exercise?

The Cable Crunch is an isolation exercise, it targets the abs through a single joint, which makes it useful for focused, targeted work.

How do I do the Cable Crunch with correct form?

Kneel below a high pulley that contains a rope attachment. Follow the full step-by-step above for the complete movement.

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