Core · Cable
Cable Crunch
How to do the cable crunch, the muscles it works, and the mistakes to avoid. Pulled straight from the Kovo app's exercise library.
- Equipment
- Cable
- Difficulty
- Advanced
- Logged as
- Weighted reps
- Movement
- Core Hold
- Mechanic
- Accessory
See it in motion
How to do it
Kneel in front of a cable machine with a rope attachment. Hold the rope near your head and crunch down, engaging your core. Slowly return to the starting position.
- 1You should feel a strong contraction through your entire abdominal wall
- 2Keep your spine neutral as you hinge from your rib cage down
- 3Anchor the rope behind your head and focus on pulling with your abs, not your arms
Common mistakes
- Avoid pulling the rope with your arms
- Don't use your hip flexors to initiate the movement
- Stay smooth, no jerky motions or excessive momentum
Muscles worked
The cable crunch mainly works the upper abs and lower abs, with the obliques assisting.
- Upper AbsPrimary
- Lower AbsPrimary
- ObliquesSupport
- QuadsMinor
Kovo programs the cable crunch for you and tracks it every session.
The AI builds your whole program, drops the right lifts into each workout, and adjusts 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 bicycle crunches
- How to do the cable pallof press
- How to do the woodchop
- How to do the captains chair leg raise
- How to do the crunch
Last reviewed April 2026.