Knee Touch Crunch
- Primary muscleAbs
- EquipmentBodyweight
- DifficultyBeginner
- TypeCore · Core flexion
- Secondary muscles
- Hip Flexors
- Body part
- Core
- Position
- Lying
- Laterality
- Bilateral (both sides together)
- Category
- Strength
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Alternating a reach toward the opposite knee gives each crunch a small rotation, splitting the work between the rectus and the obliques one side at a time. Compared with the Alternating Heel Touch, which slides low toward the same-side heel, the reach here travels up and across - more curl, less lateral bend.
How to do the Knee Touch Crunch
- Lie flat on your back with your knees bent and feet flat on the ground.
- Place your hands behind your head with your elbows pointing outwards.
- Engaging your abs, lift your shoulder blades off the ground and reach your right hand towards your left knee.
- Return to the starting position and repeat, this time reaching your left hand towards your right knee.
- Continue alternating sides for the desired number of repetitions.
Tip: Breathe out as you crunch and let the last bit of air leave the lungs at the top of each rep.
Muscles worked
Primary
Abs · Core
The rectus abdominis shortens to bend the spine forward, and each rep should end with the upper abs fully contracted and the ribs pulled down.
Secondary
- Hip Flexors — The hip flexors take over if your feet are anchored and you come up too high; keep the range short to leave them out.
Common mistakes
- Pulling on the neck — hands behind the head should support, not yank; keep the elbows wide and the chin about a fist away from the chest.
- Sitting all the way up — a crunch is a curl of the ribs toward the pelvis, not a sit-up; the lower back should stay on the floor the whole time.
- Cranking out fast reps — momentum does the work if you bounce; lift to a squeeze, hold for a count and lower slowly.
- Never adding load — once bodyweight reps get easy, hold a plate on the chest or use a cable rather than doing sets of 50.
Sets, reps and where it fits
| Goal | Sets × reps | Rest |
|---|---|---|
| Strength | 3 × 8–12 | 60 s |
| Endurance | 2–3 × 15–25 | 45 s |
Crunches close out a session after the heavy work, or they can fill the rest periods between sets of a lift that does not need much bracing. Pair a cable crunch with a cable side bend on the same stack.
Variations and alternatives
Similar exercises
Without bodyweight
Frequently asked questions
What muscles does the Knee Touch Crunch work?
The Knee Touch Crunch primarily works the abs. It also involves the hip flexors, which assist the movement and stabilise the joints.
Is the Knee Touch Crunch good for beginners?
Yes. The Knee Touch Crunch is rated beginner: it uses no equipment beyond your bodyweight and the movement is simple to learn. Start light, focus on the full range of motion and add load once every rep looks the same.
What can I do instead of the Knee Touch Crunch?
If you cannot do the Knee Touch Crunch, try the Crunch, the Frog Crunch or the Negative Crunch. Each of them trains the abs through a similar movement, so you can swap them in without changing the rest of the workout.
How many sets and reps should I do?
It depends on your goal. For the Knee Touch Crunch, a sensible starting point is strength: 3 × 8–12 with 60 s rest; endurance: 2–3 × 15–25 with 45 s rest. Train it at the end of a session or pair it with a lower-body lift as active rest.
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