Core · Bodyweight
Opposite Crunch
How to do the opposite crunch, the muscles it works, and the mistakes to avoid. Pulled straight from the Kovo app's exercise library.
- Equipment
- Bodyweight
- Difficulty
- Beginner
- Logged as
- Reps
- Movement
- Flexion
- Mechanic
- Isolation
How to do it
Lie on your back with knees bent and hands behind your head. Crunch up and rotate so one elbow drives toward the opposite knee, then return and repeat to the other side. Keep the movement controlled and led by your abs.
- 1Feel a strong contraction across your abs and obliques as you twist
- 2Lead the crunch with your rib cage, not your neck
- 3Squeeze at the top before lowering under control
Common mistakes
- Don't pull on your neck with your hands
- Avoid using your hip flexors to yank yourself up
- Don't use momentum; keep the motion smooth
Muscles worked
The opposite crunch mainly works the upper abs, lower abs, and obliques.
- Upper AbsPrimary
- Lower AbsPrimary
- ObliquesPrimary
- QuadsMinor
- Hip FlexorsMinor
Kovo programs the opposite 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.