Hips shift to assist the crunch
Hip movement compensates for weak obliques.
Overactive muscles
Hip flexorsTFL
Corrective work
Foam RollHip flexors↗StretchHalf-kneeling hip flexor stretch↗Core · Core
Cable Crunch — Oblique Variation
Coaching cues
- Kneel beside the cable at an angle; rope at one side of the head
- Crunch diagonally — elbow toward the opposite knee
- Rotate the trunk; pause at the peak contraction
- Control the return; hips stay stationary
Common faults 2
Pulling with the arm instead of the oblique
Shoulder and neck assist; oblique contraction is minimal.
Overactive muscles
Upper trapeziusSCM
Corrective work
Foam RollUpper traps↗StretchSCM / scalene stretch↗