Cable Side Crunch

A core exercise targeting the internal and external obliques. The standing or kneeling cable setup provides a constant lateral load.

Exercise Details

Level
Beginner
Body Area
core
Type
core
Required Equipment
Target Muscle Groups
Primary
Secondary

Setup

Stand or kneel sideways to a high pulley. Hold the handle with one hand by your ear. Brace your feet for stability.

Instructions

1. Flex your torso laterally toward the pulley side.
2. Squeeze your obliques at the peak of the contraction.
3. Return slowly to the start.
4. Keep your hips stationary.
5. Finish the set then switch sides.

Common Mistakes

1. Rotating the torso instead of lateral flexion.
2. Pulling with the arm.
3. Moving the hips.

Alternative Exercises

Wipers
Intermediate / Bodyweight-only / Abs / isolation
An advanced rotational core exercise targeting the obliques and transverse abdominis. It builds extreme rotational control and stability.
View more
Weighted Crunch
Intermediate / Dumbbells / Abs / core
A resistance-based abdominal exercise designed to build muscle thickness. Adding weight forces the rectus abdominis to work harder against gravity for maximum hypertrophy.
View more

Explore by Muscle Groups

Explore by Equipment