10 Best Cable Reverse Crunch Alternatives for When You Lack a Cable

Ranked Cable Reverse Crunch Alternatives

10 substitutes, ranked by how closely each one matches the Cable Reverse 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. Cable Kneeling Crunch

   91% match

   • Abs
   • Cable
   • Beginner
   • Isolation

   The same equipment, done kneeling instead.

   How to perform this exercise

   1. Attach a rope handle to a high pulley and kneel down facing away from the machine.
   2. Hold the rope handle with both hands and place it behind your head, keeping your elbows out to the sides.
   3. Keeping your hips stationary, flex your waist and crunch your torso down towards your thighs.
   4. Pause for a moment at the bottom, then slowly return to the starting position.
   5. Repeat 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 Cable Reverse Crunch
   • Equipment: a cable, the same as the Cable Reverse Crunch
   • Body position: kneeling, not lying on your back
2. Play demonstration

   Progression

   2. Cable Tuck Reverse Crunch

   92% match

   • Abs
   • Cable
   • Beginner
   • Isolation

   Pick this when you want a harder version that still works the abs.

   How to perform this exercise

   1. Attach a cable to a low pulley and lie down on a mat facing up.
   2. Hold the cable with both hands and extend your arms straight up above your chest.
   3. Bend your knees and lift your legs up, bringing your knees towards your chest.
   4. At the same time, curl your pelvis up towards your chest, lifting your hips off the ground.
   5. Pause for a moment at the top, then slowly lower your legs and hips back down to the starting position.
   6. Repeat 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 Cable Reverse Crunch
   • Equipment: a cable, the same as the Cable Reverse Crunch
   • Body position: lying on your back, the same as the Cable Reverse Crunch
3. 

   Progression

   3. Cable Crunch

   91% match

   • Abs
   • Cable
   • Beginner
   • Isolation

   How to perform this exercise

   1. Kneel below a high pulley that contains a rope attachment.
   2. Grasp cable rope attachment and lower the rope until your hands are placed next to your face.
   3. Flex your hips slightly and allow the weight to hyperextend the lower back. This will be your starting position.
   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. 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. Repeat for the recommended amount of repetitions.

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

   Why this matches

   • Primary muscle: abs, the same as the Cable Reverse Crunch
   • Equipment: a cable, the same as the Cable Reverse Crunch
   • Body position: kneeling, not lying on your back
4. 

   Progression

   4. Rope Crunch

   91% match

   • Abs
   • Cable
   • Beginner
   • Isolation

   How to perform this exercise

   1. Kneel 1-2 feet in front of a cable system with a rope attached.
   2. After selecting an appropriate weight, grasp the rope with both hands reaching overhead. Your torso should be upright in the starting position.
   3. To begin, flex at the spine, attempting to bring your rib cage to your legs as you pull the cable down.
   4. Pause at the bottom of the motion, and then slowly return to the starting position.
   5. These can be done with twists or to the side to hit the obliques.

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

   Why this matches

   • Primary muscle: abs, the same as the Cable Reverse Crunch
   • Equipment: a cable, the same as the Cable Reverse Crunch
   • Body position: kneeling, not lying on your back
5. Play demonstration

   Progression

   5. Cable Standing Crunch

   87% match

   • Abs
   • Cable
   • Beginner
   • Isolation

   How to perform this exercise

   1. Attach a cable handle to a high pulley and stand facing away from the machine.
   2. Hold the handle with both hands and place it behind your head, keeping your elbows bent.
   3. Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart and your knees slightly bent.
   4. Keeping your abs engaged, exhale and crunch your torso down towards your knees, bringing your elbows towards your thighs.
   5. Pause for a moment at the bottom of the movement, then slowly return to the starting position.
   6. Repeat 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 Cable Reverse Crunch
   • Equipment: a cable, the same as the Cable Reverse Crunch
   • Body position: standing, not lying on your back
6. Play demonstration

   Progression

   6. Cable Standing Crunch (With Rope Attachment)

   87% match

   • Abs
   • Cable
   • Beginner
   • Isolation

   How to perform this exercise

   1. Attach a rope to a cable machine at chest height.
   2. Stand facing away from the machine with your feet shoulder-width apart.
   3. Hold the rope with both hands and bring it behind your head, keeping your elbows bent.
   4. Engage your abs and slowly crunch your torso forward, bringing your elbows towards your knees.
   5. Pause for a moment at the top of the crunch, then slowly return to the starting position.
   6. Repeat 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 Cable Reverse Crunch
   • Equipment: a cable, the same as the Cable Reverse Crunch
   • Body position: standing, not lying on your back
7. Play demonstration

   Progression

   7. Cable Seated Crunch

   86% match

   • Abs
   • Cable
   • Intermediate
   • Isolation

   How to perform this exercise

   1. Sit on a cable machine with your feet flat on the ground and your knees bent.
   2. Hold the cable handle with both hands and position it behind your head.
   3. Engage your abs and slowly curl your upper body forward, bringing your chest towards your knees.
   4. Pause for a moment at the top, then slowly return to the starting position.
   5. Repeat 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 Cable Reverse Crunch
   • Equipment: a cable, the same as the Cable Reverse Crunch
   • Body position: seated, not lying on your back
8. Play demonstration

   8. Butt-ups

   85% match

   • Abs
   • Bodyweight
   • Beginner
   • 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 by your sides, palms facing down.
   3. Engaging your abs, lift your legs off the ground, bringing your knees towards your chest.
   4. At the top of the movement, squeeze your abs and pause for a moment.
   5. Slowly lower your legs back down to the starting position.
   6. Repeat for the desired number of repetitions.

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

   Why this matches

   • Primary muscle: abs, the same as the Cable Reverse Crunch
   • Equipment: bodyweight only, not a cable
   • Body position: lying on your back, the same as the Cable Reverse Crunch
9. Play demonstration

   9. Tuck Crunch

   85% match

   • Abs
   • Bodyweight
   • Beginner
   • 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. Engaging your abs, lift your shoulder blades off the ground and bring your knees towards your chest, simultaneously curling your upper body towards your knees.
   4. Pause for a moment at the top, then slowly lower your shoulder blades and extend your legs back to the starting position.
   5. Repeat for the desired number of repetitions.

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

   Why this matches

   • Primary muscle: abs, the same as the Cable Reverse Crunch
   • Equipment: bodyweight only, not a cable
   • Body position: lying on your back, the same as the Cable Reverse Crunch
10. 

    10. Bent-knee Hip Raise

    84% match

    • Abs
    • Bodyweight
    • Beginner
    • Isolation

    How to perform this exercise

    1. Lay flat on the floor with your arms next to your sides.
    2. Now bend your knees at around a 75 degree angle and lift your feet off the floor by around 2 inches.
    3. Using your lower abs, bring your knees in towards you as you maintain the 75 degree angle bend in your legs. Continue this movement until you raise your hips off of the floor by rolling your pelvis backward. Breathe out as you perform this portion of the movement. Tip: At the end of the movement your knees will be over your chest.
    4. Squeeze your abs at the top of the movement for a second and then return to the starting position slowly as you breathe in. Tip: Maintain a controlled motion at all times.
    5. Repeat for the recommended amount of repetitions.

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

    Why this matches

    • Primary muscle: abs, the same as the Cable Reverse Crunch
    • Equipment: bodyweight only, not a cable
    • Body position: lying on your back, the same as the Cable Reverse Crunch
    • Balance: easier to stay steady on than the Cable Reverse Crunch