10 Best Elbow-to-knee Alternatives for Core Strength

Ranked Elbow-to-knee Alternatives

10 substitutes, ranked by how closely each one matches the Elbow-to-knee 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

   

   1. Otis-up

   99% match

   • Abs
   • Other
   • Advanced
   • Isolation

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

   How to perform this exercise

   1. Secure your feet and lay back on the floor. Your knees should be bent. Hold a weight with both hands to your chest. This will be your starting position.
   2. Initiate the movement by flexing the hips and spine to raise your torso up from the ground.
   3. As you move up, press the weight up so that it is above your head at the top of the movement.
   4. Return the weight to your chest as you reverse the sit-up motion, ensuring not to go all the way down to the floor.

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

   Why this matches

   • Primary muscle: abs, the same as the Elbow-to-knee
   • Equipment: bodyweight only, the same as the Elbow-to-knee
   • Body position: lying on your back, the same as the Elbow-to-knee
2. Play demonstration

   Progression

   2. Twisted Leg Raise

   99% 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 Elbow-to-knee
   • Equipment: bodyweight only, the same as the Elbow-to-knee
   • Body position: lying on your back, the same as the Elbow-to-knee
3. 

   3. Oblique Crunches

   96% match

   • Abs
   • Bodyweight
   • Beginner
   • Isolation

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

   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 Elbow-to-knee
   • Equipment: bodyweight only, the same as the Elbow-to-knee
   • Body position: lying on your back, the same as the Elbow-to-knee
4. 

   4. Oblique Crunches - On The Floor

   96% 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 Elbow-to-knee
   • Equipment: bodyweight only, the same as the Elbow-to-knee
   • Body position: lying on your back, the same as the Elbow-to-knee
5. Play demonstration

   5. Oblique Crunches Floor

   96% match

   • Abs
   • Bodyweight
   • Beginner
   • Isolation

   It uses the same equipment and still works the abs.

   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 Elbow-to-knee
   • Equipment: bodyweight only, the same as the Elbow-to-knee
   • Body position: lying on your back, the same as the Elbow-to-knee
6. Play demonstration

   6. Lying Elbow To Knee

   95% 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 Elbow-to-knee
   • Equipment: bodyweight only, the same as the Elbow-to-knee
   • Body position: lying on your back, the same as the Elbow-to-knee
7. Play demonstration

   7. Spine Twist

   92% 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

   • Primary muscle: abs, the same as the Elbow-to-knee
   • Equipment: bodyweight only, the same as the Elbow-to-knee
   • Body position: seated, not lying on your back
8. Play demonstration

   8. Alternate Heel Touchers

   91% 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. Extend your arms straight out to the sides, parallel to the ground.
   3. Engaging your abs, lift your shoulders off the ground and reach your right hand towards your right heel.
   4. Return to the starting position and repeat on the left side, reaching your left hand towards your left heel.
   5. 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 Elbow-to-knee
   • Equipment: bodyweight only, the same as the Elbow-to-knee
   • Body position: lying on your back, the same as the Elbow-to-knee
9. Play demonstration

   Progression

   9. Russian Twist

   89% 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 Elbow-to-knee
   • Equipment: bodyweight only, the same as the Elbow-to-knee
   • Body position: seated, not lying on your back
   • Balance: harder to stay steady on than the Elbow-to-knee
10. Play demonstration

    Progression

    10. Oblique Crunch

    89% match

    • Abs
    • Bodyweight
    • Intermediate
    • Isolation

    How to perform this exercise

    1. Lie on your back with your knees bent and feet flat on the ground.
    2. Place your hands behind your head or cross them over your chest.
    3. Engage your abs and lift your shoulder blades off the ground, rotating your torso to one side.
    4. Pause for a moment, then lower your shoulder blades back down 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 on each side.

    Why this matches

    • Primary muscle: abs, the same as the Elbow-to-knee
    • Equipment: bodyweight only, the same as the Elbow-to-knee
    • Body position: lying on your back, the same as the Elbow-to-knee