Exercise guide
Cable Tuck Reverse Crunch
- Intermediate
- Compound
- Rep-based
- Waist
The Cable Tuck Reverse Crunch provides constant tension throughout the movement, specifically targeting the lower abdominals and hip flexors by resisting the cable's pull during the leg extension.
Reviewed by the Crucible Fit team · Updated June 2026
Muscles worked
Setup
- Attach a rope handle to the low cable pulley and lie on your back facing the machine.
- Hook your heels or the arches of your feet into the loops of the rope handle.
- Scoot back until your legs are extended and there is tension on the cable.
- Place your hands flat on the floor or grip a heavy stationary object behind your head for stability.
How to do it
- Exhale and pull your knees toward your chest, focusing on curling your pelvis off the floor toward your ribs.
- At the peak of the movement, squeeze your abdominals to lift your hips slightly higher.
- Inhale and slowly extend your legs back to the starting position, resisting the weight's pull.
- Maintain a controlled tempo, taking 2 seconds to tuck and 3 seconds to extend.
Form checklist
- Keep your lower back pressed firmly into the floor as you extend your legs.
- Avoid using momentum or 'kicking' the legs to move the weight.
- Focus on the spinal curl (pelvic tilt) rather than just moving the hip joints.
- Ensure the weight stack does not touch down between repetitions.
Pro tips
- To maximize oblique involvement, perform a slight twist of the knees toward one shoulder at the top of the tuck.
- Think about 'rolling' your spine off the floor one vertebra at a time to ensure the abs are doing the work instead of just the hip flexors.
Make it harder
- Increase the time under tension by adding a 3-second pause at the peak contraction.
- Perform the exercise on a slight decline bench with your head elevated to increase the range of motion.
Frequently asked
- What muscles does the cable tuck reverse crunch work?
- The cable tuck reverse crunch primarily targets the abs and obliques, and also works the erector spinae as secondary muscles.
- What equipment do you need for the cable tuck reverse crunch?
- The cable tuck reverse crunch uses cable.
- Is the cable tuck reverse crunch good for beginners?
- The cable tuck reverse crunch is rated intermediate. Build a base with simpler variations first, then progress to it with light load and strict form.