Core · Cable
Cable Decline Crunch
How to do the cable decline crunch, the muscles it works, and the mistakes to avoid. Pulled straight from the Kovo app's exercise library.
- Equipment
- Cable
- Difficulty
- Intermediate
- Logged as
- Weighted reps
- Movement
- Flexion
- Mechanic
- Isolation
How to do it
Lie back on a decline bench and hold a cable handle from a high pulley behind your head. Secure your feet, then crunch your upper body toward your knees against the cable resistance, and lower back down under control.
- 1Upper and lower abs firing as you curl up against the cable
- 2Core staying tight and controlled through the full range
- 3A strong exhale at the top to deepen the contraction
Common mistakes
- Pulling on the handle with your arms to lift yourself
- Letting your feet come loose or using momentum
- Arching your lower back off the bench as you lower
Muscles worked
The cable decline crunch mainly works the upper abs and lower abs, with the obliques assisting.
- Upper AbsPrimary
- Lower AbsPrimary
- ObliquesSupport
- QuadsMinor
Kovo programs the cable decline crunch for you and tracks it every session.
We build your whole program, drop the right lifts into each workout, and adjust your weights as you get stronger. Free on iOS and Android.
More abs & core exercises
- How to do the ab wheel rollout
- How to do the ankle tap plank
- How to do the ankle taps
- How to do the resistance band dead bugs
- How to do the resistance band pallof press
- How to do the rollout
Last reviewed June 2026.