10 Best Cable Russian Twists Alternatives for No-Cable Setups

Cable Russian Twists are done seated with a cable machine. Ranked closest by our scoring: the Crab Twist Toe Touch, the Spine Twist and the Russian Twist.

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

Original Exercise: Cable Russian Twists

Cable Russian Twists
Primary muscle
Abs
Equipment
Cable
Difficulty
Intermediate
Type
Compound
How to perform Cable Russian Twists
  1. Connect a standard handle attachment, and position the cable to a middle pulley position.
  2. Lie on a stability ball perpendicular to the cable and grab the handle with one hand. You should be approximately arm's length away from the pulley, with the tension of the weight on the cable.
  3. Grab the handle with both hands and fully extend your arms above your chest. You hands should be directly in-line with the pulley. If not, adjust the pulley up or down until they are.
  4. Keep your hips elevated and abs engaged. Rotate your torso away from the pulley for a full-quarter rotation. Your body should be flat from head to knees.
  5. Pause for a moment and in a slow and controlled manner reset to the starting position. You should still have side tension on the cable in the resting position.
  6. Repeat the same movement to failure.
  7. Then, reposition and repeat the same series of movements on the opposite side.
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Ranked Cable Russian Twists Alternatives

10 substitutes, ranked by how closely each one matches Cable Russian Twists 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
    Crab Twist Toe TouchPlay demonstration

    1. Crab Twist Toe Touch

    79% match
    • Abs
    • Bodyweight
    • Intermediate
    • Compound

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

    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 Cable Russian Twists
    • Primary muscle: abs, the same as Cable Russian Twists
    • Equipment: bodyweight only, not a cable
    • Body position: seated, the same as Cable Russian Twists
    • Balance: harder to stay steady on than Cable Russian Twists
  2. Spine TwistPlay demonstration

    2. Spine Twist

    76% 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 Cable Russian Twists
    • Primary muscle: abs, the same as Cable Russian Twists
    • Equipment: bodyweight only, not a cable
    • Body position: seated, the same as Cable Russian Twists
  3. Russian TwistPlay demonstration

    3. Russian Twist

    75% 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
    • Movement: anti-rotation twist, the same as Cable Russian Twists
    • Primary muscle: abs, the same as Cable Russian Twists
    • Equipment: bodyweight only, not a cable
    • Body position: seated, the same as Cable Russian Twists
    • Balance: harder to stay steady on than Cable Russian Twists
  4. Lying Elbow To KneePlay demonstration

    4. Lying Elbow To Knee

    72% 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 Cable Russian Twists
    • Equipment: bodyweight only, not a cable
    • Body position: lying on your back, not seated
  5. Hanging Oblique Knee RaisePlay demonstration

    5. Hanging Oblique Knee Raise

    71% match
    • Abs
    • Bodyweight
    • Advanced
    • Compound
    How to perform this exercise
    1. Hang from a pull-up bar with your arms fully extended and your palms facing away from you.
    2. Engage your core and lift your knees towards your chest, twisting your torso to the side as you do so.
    3. Pause for a moment at the top, then slowly lower your legs back down to the starting position.
    4. Repeat on the other side, twisting your torso in the opposite direction.
    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
    • Primary muscle: abs, the same as Cable Russian Twists
    • Equipment: bodyweight only, not a cable
    • Body position: hanging, not seated
    • Balance: harder to stay steady on than Cable Russian Twists
  6. Gorilla ChinPlay demonstration

    6. Gorilla Chin

    69% match
    • Abs
    • Bodyweight
    • Intermediate
    • Compound
    How to perform this exercise
    1. Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart and your knees slightly bent.
    2. Grasp a pull-up bar with an overhand grip, slightly wider than shoulder-width apart.
    3. Hang from the bar with your arms fully extended and your palms facing away from you.
    4. Engage your core and pull your body up towards the bar, bringing your chin above the bar.
    5. Pause for a moment at the top, then slowly lower your body back down to the starting position.
    6. Repeat for the desired number of repetitions.

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

    Why this matches
    • Primary muscle: abs, the same as Cable Russian Twists
    • Equipment: bodyweight only, not a cable
    • Body position: hanging, not seated
    • Balance: harder to stay steady on than Cable Russian Twists
  7. Seated Side Crunch (Wall)Play demonstration

    7. Seated Side Crunch (Wall)

    69% 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 Cable Russian Twists
    • Equipment: bodyweight only, not a cable
    • Body position: seated, the same as Cable Russian Twists
  8. Elbow-to-kneePlay demonstration

    8. Elbow-to-knee

    68% 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 Cable Russian Twists
    • Equipment: bodyweight only, not a cable
    • Body position: lying on your back, not seated
  9. Oblique Crunches

    9. Oblique Crunches

    68% 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 Cable Russian Twists
    • Equipment: bodyweight only, not a cable
    • Body position: lying on your back, not seated
  10. Oblique Crunches - On The Floor

    10. Oblique Crunches - On The Floor

    68% 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 Cable Russian Twists
    • Equipment: bodyweight only, not a cable
    • Body position: lying on your back, not seated

Cable Russian Twists FAQ

What muscles does Cable Russian Twists work?

Cable Russian Twists primarily target the external and internal obliques plus the rectus abdominis and transverse abdominis for core stability. The hips and lats assist depending on grip and stance; cue a tall torso and thoracic rotation to emphasize oblique activation and limit hip-dominant movement.

What is the best bodyweight alternative to Cable Russian Twists?

The best bodyweight alternative is the seated Russian twist (bodyweight) or bicycle crunch for rotational core work. Sit tall, brace your core, rotate from the thoracic spine, and keep feet elevated or controlled to keep tension on the obliques rather than letting the hips drive the motion.

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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