10 Best Band Kneeling Twisting Crunch Alternatives for Limited Equipment

Ranked Band Kneeling Twisting Crunch Alternatives

10 substitutes, ranked by how closely each one matches the Band Kneeling Twisting Crunch 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. Harder versions are tagged as progressions and kept out of the top spot even when they score higher.

1. Best match

   Play demonstration

   1. Band Bicycle Crunch

   86% match

   • Abs
   • Band
   • Intermediate
   • Isolation

   Pick this when you want to work the abs with less balance to manage.

   How to perform this exercise

   1. Lie flat on your back with your hands behind your head and your knees bent.
   2. Lift your feet off the ground and bring your right knee towards your chest while simultaneously twisting your torso to bring your left elbow towards your right knee.
   3. Straighten your right leg while bringing your left knee towards your chest and twisting your torso to bring your right elbow towards your left knee.
   4. Continue alternating the twisting motion, as if you are pedaling a bicycle, while keeping your core engaged throughout the movement.
   5. Repeat 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 Band Kneeling Twisting Crunch
   • Equipment: a band, the same as the Band Kneeling Twisting Crunch
   • Body position: lying on your back, not kneeling
2. Play demonstration

   2. Band Standing Twisting Crunch

   80% match

   • Abs
   • Band
   • Beginner
   • Isolation

   Pick this when you want an easier version that still works the abs.

   How to perform this exercise

   1. Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart and place the band around your upper back, crossing it in front of your chest.
   2. Hold the ends of the band with your hands, keeping your elbows bent and close to your sides.
   3. Engage your abs and twist your torso to one side, bringing your elbow towards the opposite knee.
   4. Pause for a moment, then return to the starting position.
   5. Repeat on the other side.
   6. Continue alternating sides for the desired number of repetitions.

   Sets and reps: 3 sets of 10 to 15 reps.

   Why this matches

   • Primary muscle: abs, the same as the Band Kneeling Twisting Crunch
   • Equipment: a band, the same as the Band Kneeling Twisting Crunch
   • Body position: standing, not kneeling
3. 

   3. Kneeling Cable Crunch With Alternating Oblique Twists

   79% match

   • Abs
   • Cable
   • Intermediate
   • Isolation

   A good swap when you have a cable machine to work with, and it still works the abs.

   How to perform this exercise

   1. Connect a rope attachment to a high pulley cable and position a mat on the floor in front of it.
   2. Grab the rope with both hands and kneel approximately two feet back from the tower.
   3. Position the rope behind your head with your hands by your ears.
   4. Keep your hands in the same place, contract your abs and pull downward on the rope in a crunching movement until your elbows reach your knees.
   5. Pause briefly at the bottom and rise up in a slow and controlled manner until you reach the starting position.
   6. Repeat the same downward movement until you're halfway down, at which time you'll begin rotating one of your elbows to the opposite knee.
   7. Again, pause briefly at the bottom and rise up in a slow and controlled manner until you reach the starting position.
   8. Repeat the same movement as before, but alternate the other elbow to the opposite knee.
   9. Continue this series of movements to failure.

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

   Why this matches

   • Primary muscle: abs, the same as the Band Kneeling Twisting Crunch
   • Equipment: a cable, not a band
   • Body position: kneeling, the same as the Band Kneeling Twisting Crunch
   • Balance: easier to stay steady on than the Band Kneeling Twisting Crunch
4. 

   4. Oblique Crunches

   79% match

   • Abs
   • Bodyweight
   • Beginner
   • Isolation

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

   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 Band Kneeling Twisting Crunch
   • Equipment: bodyweight only, not a band
   • Body position: lying on your back, not kneeling
   • Balance: easier to stay steady on than the Band Kneeling Twisting Crunch
5. 

   5. Oblique Crunches - On The Floor

   79% 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 Band Kneeling Twisting Crunch
   • Equipment: bodyweight only, not a band
   • Body position: lying on your back, not kneeling
   • Balance: easier to stay steady on than the Band Kneeling Twisting Crunch
6. Play demonstration

   6. Oblique Crunches Floor

   79% 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 Band Kneeling Twisting Crunch
   • Equipment: bodyweight only, not a band
   • Body position: lying on your back, not kneeling
7. Play demonstration

   7. Band Seated Twist

   78% match

   • Abs
   • Band
   • Intermediate
   • Isolation

   How to perform this exercise

   1. Sit on the ground with your legs extended in front of you and your back straight.
   2. Wrap the band around your waist and hold the ends with both hands.
   3. Engage your abs and slowly twist your torso to one side, keeping your back straight and your feet on the ground.
   4. Pause for a moment at the end of the twist, then slowly return to the starting position.
   5. Repeat the twist to the other side.
   6. Continue alternating sides for the desired number of repetitions.

   Sets and reps: 3 sets of 10 to 15 reps.

   Why this matches

   • Primary muscle: abs, the same as the Band Kneeling Twisting Crunch
   • Equipment: a band, the same as the Band Kneeling Twisting Crunch
   • Body position: seated, not kneeling
   • Balance: easier to stay steady on than the Band Kneeling Twisting Crunch
8. Play demonstration

   8. Russian Twist

   77% match

   • Abs
   • Bodyweight
   • Intermediate
   • Isolation

   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

   • Primary muscle: abs, the same as the Band Kneeling Twisting Crunch
   • Equipment: bodyweight only, not a band
   • Body position: seated, not kneeling
9. Play demonstration

   9. Assisted Motion Russian Twist

   77% match

   • Abs
   • Medicine-ball
   • Intermediate
   • Isolation

   How to perform this exercise

   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.

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

   Why this matches

   • Primary muscle: abs, the same as the Band Kneeling Twisting Crunch
   • Equipment: free weights, not a band
   • Body position: seated, not kneeling
10. Play demonstration

    Progression

    10. Band Alternating V-up

    76% match

    • Abs
    • Band
    • Advanced
    • Isolation

    How to perform this exercise

    1. Lie flat on your back with your legs straight and your arms extended overhead, holding the band.
    2. Engage your abs and lift your legs and upper body off the ground simultaneously, reaching your hands towards your toes.
    3. As you lower your legs and upper body back down, switch the position of your legs, crossing one over the other.
    4. Repeat the movement, alternating the position of your legs with each repetition.
    5. Continue 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 Band Kneeling Twisting Crunch
    • Equipment: a band, the same as the Band Kneeling Twisting Crunch
    • Body position: lying on your back, not kneeling