Core · Dumbbell
Dumbbell Straight Arm Crunch
How to do the dumbbell straight arm crunch, the muscles it works, and the mistakes to avoid. Pulled straight from the Kovo app's exercise library.
- Equipment
- Dumbbell
- Difficulty
- Intermediate
- Logged as
- Weighted reps
- Movement
- Flexion
- Mechanic
- Isolation
How to do it
Lie on your back with knees bent, holding a dumbbell in both hands with your arms extended straight overhead. Keeping your arms locked, crunch your shoulder blades off the floor, then lower under control.
- 1Feel your upper abs crunch your ribs toward your hips as your shoulders
- 2lift
- 3Keep your arms straight and locked so the load stays over your chest
- 4Move slowly and keep tension on your abs at the bottom
Common mistakes
- Don't swing the dumbbell to throw yourself up
- Avoid pulling with your neck or letting your chin jut forward
- Don't let your lower back arch up off the floor
Muscles worked
The dumbbell straight arm crunch mainly works the upper abs, with the lower abs and obliques assisting.
- Upper AbsPrimary
- Lower AbsSupport
- ObliquesSupport
- ForearmsMinor
- LatsMinor
- Front DeltsMinor
- Hip FlexorsMinor
Kovo programs the dumbbell straight arm 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.