10 Best Assisted Motion Russian Twist Alternatives for Core Strength

The Assisted Motion Russian Twist is done seated with a medicine ball. Ranked closest by our scoring: the Russian Twist, the Spine Twist and the Crab Twist Toe Touch.

Updated Ranked by our 12-factor similarity model How it works

Original Exercise: Assisted Motion Russian Twist

Assisted Motion Russian TwistPlay demonstration
Primary muscle
Abs
Equipment
Medicine-ball
Difficulty
Intermediate
Type
Isolation

Secondary muscles: Obliques, Lower Back

How to perform Assisted Motion Russian Twist
  1. Sit on the ground with your knees bent and feet flat on the floor.
  2. Hold the medicine ball with both hands in front of your chest.
  3. Lean back slightly, engaging your abs and keeping your back straight.
  4. Slowly twist your torso to the right, bringing the medicine ball towards the right side of your body.
  5. Pause for a moment, then twist your torso to the left, bringing the medicine ball towards the left side of your body.
  6. Continue alternating sides for the desired number of repetitions.
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Ranked Assisted Motion Russian Twist Alternatives

10 substitutes, ranked by how closely each one matches the Assisted Motion Russian Twist on movement pattern, muscles worked, equipment and body position. The higher the score, the less you change. Open "How to perform this exercise" on a card for the steps; every card title links to that exercise's own alternatives page.

  1. Best match
    Russian TwistPlay demonstration

    1. Russian Twist

    89% match
    • Abs
    • Bodyweight
    • Intermediate
    • Isolation

    Use this when you have nothing to train with, because it works the abs with bodyweight alone.

    How to perform this exercise
    1. Sit on the ground with your knees bent and feet flat on the floor.
    2. Lean back slightly while keeping your back straight and your core engaged.
    3. Hold your hands together in front of your chest or hold a weight if desired.
    4. Lift your feet off the ground, balancing on your sit bones.
    5. Twist your torso to the right, bringing your hands or weight towards the right side of your body.
    6. Pause for a moment, then twist your torso to the left, bringing your hands or weight towards the left side of your body.
    7. Continue alternating sides for the desired number of repetitions.

    Sets and reps: 3 sets of 10 to 15 reps on each side.

    Why this matches
    • Movement: anti-rotation twist, the same as the Assisted Motion Russian Twist
    • Primary muscle: abs, the same as the Assisted Motion Russian Twist
    • Equipment: bodyweight only, not free weights
    • Body position: seated, the same as the Assisted Motion Russian Twist
  2. Spine TwistPlay demonstration

    2. Spine Twist

    87% match
    • Abs
    • Bodyweight
    • Beginner
    • Isolation
    How to perform this exercise
    1. Sit on the ground with your legs extended in front of you.
    2. Bend your knees and place your feet flat on the ground, hip-width apart.
    3. Place your hands behind your head with your elbows pointing outwards.
    4. Engage your abs and slowly twist your torso to the right, bringing your right elbow towards your left knee.
    5. Pause for a moment at the end of the twist, then slowly return to the starting position.
    6. Repeat the twist to the left side, bringing your left elbow towards your right knee.
    7. Continue alternating sides for the desired number of repetitions.

    Sets and reps: 3 sets of 8 to 12 reps on each side, and add reps before you add load.

    Why this matches
    • Movement: anti-rotation twist, the same as the Assisted Motion Russian Twist
    • Primary muscle: abs, the same as the Assisted Motion Russian Twist
    • Equipment: bodyweight only, not free weights
    • Body position: seated, the same as the Assisted Motion Russian Twist
    • Balance: easier to stay steady on than the Assisted Motion Russian Twist
  3. Crab Twist Toe TouchPlay demonstration

    3. Crab Twist Toe Touch

    83% match
    • Abs
    • Bodyweight
    • Intermediate
    • Compound
    How to perform this exercise
    1. Start by sitting on the ground with your knees bent and feet flat on the floor.
    2. Place your hands behind you, fingers pointing towards your feet, and lift your hips off the ground.
    3. Extend one leg straight out in front of you while simultaneously reaching your opposite hand towards your toes.
    4. Return to the starting position and repeat on the other side.
    5. Continue alternating sides for the desired number of repetitions.

    Sets and reps: 3 or 4 sets of 6 to 10 reps on each side.

    Why this matches
    • Movement: anti-rotation twist, the same as the Assisted Motion Russian Twist
    • Primary muscle: abs, the same as the Assisted Motion Russian Twist
    • Equipment: bodyweight only, not free weights
    • Body position: seated, the same as the Assisted Motion Russian Twist
    • Balance: harder to stay steady on than the Assisted Motion Russian Twist
  4. Elbow-to-kneePlay demonstration

    4. Elbow-to-knee

    79% match
    • Abs
    • Bodyweight
    • Beginner
    • Isolation
    How to perform this exercise
    1. Start by lying flat on your back with your knees bent and feet flat on the ground.
    2. Place your hands behind your head with your elbows pointing outwards.
    3. Engage your abs and lift your upper body off the ground, bringing your right elbow towards your left knee.
    4. At the same time, bring your left knee towards your right elbow, creating a twisting motion.
    5. Pause for a moment at the top, then slowly lower your upper body and extend your legs back to the starting position.
    6. Repeat the movement, this time bringing your left elbow towards your right knee and your right knee towards your left elbow.
    7. Continue alternating sides for the desired number of repetitions.

    Sets and reps: 3 sets of 8 to 12 reps on each side, and add reps before you add load.

    Why this matches
    • Primary muscle: abs, the same as the Assisted Motion Russian Twist
    • Equipment: bodyweight only, not free weights
    • Body position: lying on your back, not seated
  5. Twisted Leg RaisePlay demonstration

    5. Twisted Leg Raise

    79% match
    • Abs
    • Bodyweight
    • Intermediate
    • Isolation
    How to perform this exercise
    1. Lie flat on your back with your legs extended and your arms by your sides.
    2. Place your hands under your glutes for support.
    3. Engage your abs and lift both legs off the ground, keeping them straight.
    4. As you lift your legs, twist your hips to one side, bringing your legs towards your opposite shoulder.
    5. Pause for a moment at the top, then slowly lower your legs back down to the starting position.
    6. Repeat the movement, this time twisting your hips to the other side.
    7. Continue alternating sides for the desired number of repetitions.

    Sets and reps: 3 sets of 10 to 15 reps on each side.

    Why this matches
    • Primary muscle: abs, the same as the Assisted Motion Russian Twist
    • Equipment: bodyweight only, not free weights
    • Body position: lying on your back, not seated
  6. Seated Side Crunch (Wall)Play demonstration

    6. Seated Side Crunch (Wall)

    76% match
    • Abs
    • Bodyweight
    • Beginner
    • Isolation
    How to perform this exercise
    1. Sit on the floor with your back against a wall and your legs extended in front of you.
    2. Bend your knees and place your feet flat on the floor, hip-width apart.
    3. Place your hands behind your head with your elbows pointing outwards.
    4. Engage your abs and lean to one side, bringing your elbow towards your hip.
    5. Pause for a moment, then return to the starting position.
    6. Repeat on the other side.
    7. Continue alternating sides for the desired number of repetitions.

    Sets and reps: 3 sets of 8 to 12 reps on each side, and add reps before you add load.

    Why this matches
    • Primary muscle: abs, the same as the Assisted Motion Russian Twist
    • Equipment: bodyweight only, not free weights
    • Body position: seated, the same as the Assisted Motion Russian Twist
    • Balance: easier to stay steady on than the Assisted Motion Russian Twist
  7. Lying Elbow To KneePlay demonstration

    7. Lying Elbow To Knee

    76% match
    • Abs
    • Bodyweight
    • Intermediate
    • Isolation
    How to perform this exercise
    1. Lie flat on your back with your knees bent and feet flat on the ground.
    2. Place your hands behind your head with your elbows pointing outwards.
    3. Engage your abs and lift your upper body off the ground, bringing your right elbow towards your left knee.
    4. At the same time, extend your right leg straight out and lift it off the ground.
    5. Pause for a moment, then return to the starting position.
    6. Repeat the movement, this time bringing your left elbow towards your right knee and extending your left leg.
    7. Continue alternating sides for the desired number of repetitions.

    Sets and reps: 3 sets of 8 to 12 reps on each side, and add reps before you add load.

    Why this matches
    • Primary muscle: abs, the same as the Assisted Motion Russian Twist
    • Equipment: bodyweight only, not free weights
    • Body position: lying on your back, not seated
  8. Oblique Crunches

    8. Oblique Crunches

    75% match
    • Abs
    • Bodyweight
    • Beginner
    • Isolation
    How to perform this exercise
    1. 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.
    2. Make sure your feet are elevated and resting on a flat surface.
    3. Now lift the shoulder in which your hand is touching your head.
    4. 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.
    5. After your knee touches your elbow, lower your body until you have reached the starting position.
    6. Remember to breathe in during the eccentric (lowering) part of the exercise and to breathe out during the concentric (upward) part of the exercise.
    7. Continue alternating in this manner until all of the recommended repetitions for each side have been completed.

    Sets and reps: 3 sets of 8 to 12 reps on each side, and add reps before you add load.

    Why this matches
    • Primary muscle: abs, the same as the Assisted Motion Russian Twist
    • Equipment: bodyweight only, not free weights
    • Body position: lying on your back, not seated
    • Balance: easier to stay steady on than the Assisted Motion Russian Twist
  9. Oblique Crunches - On The Floor

    9. Oblique Crunches - On The Floor

    75% match
    • Abs
    • Bodyweight
    • Beginner
    • Isolation
    How to perform this exercise
    1. Start out by lying on your right side with your legs lying on top of each other. Make sure your knees are bent a little bit.
    2. Place your left hand behind your head.
    3. Once you are in this set position, begin by moving your left elbow up as you would perform a normal crunch except this time the main emphasis is on your obliques.
    4. Crunch as high as you can, hold the contraction for a second and then slowly drop back down into the starting position.
    5. Remember to breathe in during the eccentric (lowering) part of the exercise and to breathe out during the concentric (elevation) part of the exercise.

    Sets and reps: 3 sets of 8 to 12 reps on each side, and add reps before you add load.

    Why this matches
    • Primary muscle: abs, the same as the Assisted Motion Russian Twist
    • Equipment: bodyweight only, not free weights
    • Body position: lying on your back, not seated
    • Balance: easier to stay steady on than the Assisted Motion Russian Twist
  10. Oblique Crunches FloorPlay demonstration

    10. Oblique Crunches Floor

    75% match
    • Abs
    • Bodyweight
    • Beginner
    • Isolation
    How to perform this exercise
    1. Lie on your back with your knees bent and feet flat on the floor.
    2. Place your hands behind your head or cross them over your chest.
    3. Engage your abs and lift your shoulder blades off the floor, rotating your torso to one side.
    4. Pause for a moment, then lower your shoulder blades back down to the floor.
    5. Repeat on the other side, alternating sides with each repetition.

    Sets and reps: 3 sets of 8 to 12 reps on each side, and add reps before you add load.

    Why this matches
    • Primary muscle: abs, the same as the Assisted Motion Russian Twist
    • Equipment: bodyweight only, not free weights
    • Body position: lying on your back, not seated

Assisted Motion Russian Twist FAQ

What muscles does Assisted Motion Russian Twist work?

The movement primarily targets the external and internal obliques and secondarily the rectus abdominis and transverse abdominis for stability. It emphasizes thoracic rotation while the core braces to limit lumbar movement, and hip flexors assist when you sit with legs elevated.

What is the best bodyweight alternative to Assisted Motion Russian Twist?

Bicycle crunches are an effective bodyweight alternative because they combine trunk rotation with anti-extension bracing to load the obliques. Cue: press your lower back into the floor, rotate the ribcage to bring elbow toward opposite knee, and perform slow, controlled reps to emphasize oblique contraction.

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Similarity scores compare exercise metadata such as movement pattern, muscles, equipment and body position. They are not a safety rating or a check that you own the equipment. Learn about our methodology