10 Best Lever Seated Crunch Alternatives for Gyms Without a Lever

Ranked Lever Seated Crunch Alternatives

10 substitutes, ranked by how closely each one matches the Lever Seated 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.

1. Best match

   Play demonstration

   1. Lever Seated Crunch (Chest Pad)

   96% match

   • Abs
   • Lever
   • Beginner
   • Isolation

   It uses the same equipment and still works the abs.

   How to perform this exercise

   1. Adjust the seat height and chest pad position according to your comfort.
   2. Sit on the machine with your back against the chest pad and your feet flat on the floor.
   3. Grasp the handles or side bars for stability.
   4. Engage your abs and slowly lean back, allowing the chest pad to move with you.
   5. Pause for a moment at the maximum contraction, feeling the tension in your abs.
   6. Slowly return to the starting position by contracting your abs and pulling yourself back up.
   7. 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 Lever Seated Crunch
   • Equipment: a machine, the same as the Lever Seated Crunch
   • Body position: seated, the same as the Lever Seated Crunch
2. Play demonstration

   2. Lever Seated Leg Raise Crunch

   96% match

   • Abs
   • Lever
   • Beginner
   • Isolation

   How to perform this exercise

   1. Sit on the leverage machine with your back against the backrest and your feet on the footrests.
   2. Grasp the handles or sidebars for stability.
   3. Engage your abs and slowly raise your legs up towards your chest, curling your torso forward at the same time.
   4. Pause for a moment at the top, then slowly lower your legs and torso back 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 Lever Seated Crunch
   • Equipment: a machine, the same as the Lever Seated Crunch
   • Body position: seated, the same as the Lever Seated Crunch
3. Play demonstration

   3. Leg Pull In Flat Bench

   88% 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 a flat bench with your legs extended straight out in front of you.
   2. Place your hands on the bench beside your hips for support.
   3. Engage your abs and lift your legs off the ground, bringing your knees towards your chest.
   4. Pause for a moment at the top, then slowly lower your legs back down 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 Lever Seated Crunch
   • Equipment: bodyweight only, not a machine
   • Body position: seated, the same as the Lever Seated Crunch
   • Balance: harder to stay steady on than the Lever Seated Crunch
4. 

   4. Ab Crunch Machine

   86% match

   • Abs
   • Machine
   • Beginner
   • Isolation

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

   How to perform this exercise

   1. Select a light resistance and sit down on the ab machine placing your feet under the pads provided and grabbing the top handles. Your arms should be bent at a 90 degree angle as you rest the triceps on the pads provided. This will be your starting position.
   2. At the same time, begin to lift the legs up as you crunch your upper torso. Breathe out as you perform this movement. Tip: Be sure to use a slow and controlled motion. Concentrate on using your abs to move the weight while relaxing your legs and feet.
   3. After a second pause, slowly return to the starting position as you breathe in.
   4. Repeat the movement for the prescribed amount of repetitions.

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

   Why this matches

   • Primary muscle: abs, the same as the Lever Seated Crunch
   • Equipment: a machine, the same as the Lever Seated Crunch
   • Body position: seated, the same as the Lever Seated Crunch
5. Play demonstration

   5. Cable Seated Crunch

   85% 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. 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 Lever Seated Crunch
   • Equipment: a cable, not a machine
   • Body position: seated, the same as the Lever Seated Crunch
6. 

   6. Seated Leg Tucks

   83% match

   • Abs
   • Bodyweight
   • Intermediate
   • Isolation

   How to perform this exercise

   1. Sit on a bench with the legs stretched out in front of you slightly below parallel and your arms holding on to the sides of the bench. Your torso should be leaning backwards around a 45-degree angle from the bench. This will be your starting position.
   2. Bring the knees in toward you as you move your torso closer to them at the same time. Breathe out as you perform this movement.
   3. After a second pause, go back to the starting position as you inhale.
   4. 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 Lever Seated Crunch
   • Equipment: bodyweight only, not a machine
   • Body position: seated, the same as the Lever Seated Crunch
   • Balance: harder to stay steady on than the Lever Seated Crunch
7. Play demonstration

   7. Assisted Sit-up

   82% match

   • Abs
   • Machine
   • Beginner
   • Isolation

   How to perform this exercise

   1. Sit on the edge of a bench or have someone hold your feet down.
   2. Lie flat on your back with your knees bent and feet flat on the ground.
   3. Place your hands behind your head with your elbows pointing outwards.
   4. Engaging your abs, slowly lift your upper body off the ground, curling forward until your torso is at a 45-degree angle.
   5. Pause for a moment at the top, then slowly lower your upper body 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 Lever Seated Crunch
   • Equipment: a machine, the same as the Lever Seated Crunch
   • Body position: lying on your back, not seated
8. Play demonstration

   8. Lying Leg-hip Raise

   81% 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 core and lift your legs off the ground, raising them towards the ceiling.
   4. Pause for a moment at the top, then slowly lower your legs back down 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 Lever Seated Crunch
   • Equipment: bodyweight only, not a machine
   • Body position: lying on your back, not seated
9. Play demonstration

   9. Reverse Crunch

   81% match

   • Abs
   • Bodyweight
   • Beginner
   • Isolation

   How to perform this exercise

   1. Lie flat on your back with your arms extended along your sides.
   2. Bend your knees and lift your feet off the ground, bringing your thighs perpendicular to the floor.
   3. Contract your abs and curl your hips off the floor, bringing your knees towards your chest.
   4. Pause for a moment at the top, then slowly lower your hips back down 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 Lever Seated Crunch
   • Equipment: bodyweight only, not a machine
   • Body position: lying on your back, not seated
10. 

    10. Flat Bench Leg Pull-in

    80% match

    • Abs
    • Bodyweight
    • Beginner
    • Isolation

    How to perform this exercise

    1. Lie on an exercise mat or a flat bench with your legs off the end.
    2. Place your hands either under your glutes with your palms down or by the sides holding on to the bench (or with palms down by the side on an exercise mat). Also extend your legs straight out. This will be your starting position.
    3. Bend your knees and pull your upper thighs into your midsection as you breathe out. Continue this movement until your knees are near your chest. Hold the contracted position for a second.
    4. As you breathe in, slowly return to the starting position.
    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 Lever Seated Crunch
    • Equipment: bodyweight only, not a machine
    • Body position: lying on your back, not seated