Core · Bodyweight
Arms Straight Crunch
How to do the arms straight crunch, the muscles it works, and the mistakes to avoid. Pulled straight from the Kovo app's exercise library.
- Equipment
- Bodyweight
- Difficulty
- Intermediate
- Logged as
- Reps
- Movement
- Flexion
- Mechanic
- Isolation
How to do it
Lie on your back with knees bent and arms extended straight overhead alongside your ears. Keep your arms locked as you crunch your shoulders off the floor, then lower with control.
- 1Feel your abs work harder against the long arm lever
- 2Keep your arms straight and locked beside your head
- 3Curl your rib cage toward your pelvis
Common mistakes
- Avoid swinging your arms to throw yourself up
- Don't pull your chin into your chest
- Don't let your lower back lift off the floor
Muscles worked
The arms straight crunch mainly works the upper abs, with the lower abs and obliques assisting.
- Upper AbsPrimary
- Lower AbsSupport
- ObliquesSupport
- LatsMinor
- Front DeltsMinor
- Hip FlexorsMinor
Kovo programs the arms straight 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.