Core · Machine
Machine Crunch
How to do the machine crunch, the muscles it works, and the mistakes to avoid. Pulled straight from the Kovo app's exercise library.
- Equipment
- Machine
- Difficulty
- Beginner
- Logged as
- Weighted reps
- Movement
- Core Hold
- Mechanic
- Accessory
See it in motion
How to do it
Sit tall with your back against the pad and place your forearms/locked arms on the handles. Brace your core and exhale as you crunch to drive the handles forward/down using your abs (not your arms). Return slowly to the start until you feel a stretch through the midsection, then repeat.
- 1Your abs pulling the ribcage down and forward, like a strong crunch, while the arms stay mostly fixed on the handles.
Common mistakes
- Turning it into a chest press (bending the elbows), yanking with momentum, hyperextending the low back at the bottom, or letting the weight slam on the return.
Muscles worked
The machine crunch mainly works the upper abs and lower abs, with the obliques assisting.
- Upper AbsPrimary
- Lower AbsPrimary
- ObliquesSupport
- QuadsMinor
Kovo programs the machine 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 crunch
- How to do the cable pallof press
- How to do the woodchop
- How to do the captains chair leg raise
Last reviewed April 2026.