Cable Side Crunch
Core · Cable · Beginner
How to do it
- Attach a cable handle to a low pulley and stand sideways to the machine.
- Grasp the handle with the hand furthest from the machine and place your other hand on your hip.
- Keep your feet shoulder-width apart and your knees slightly bent.
- With your abs engaged, bend sideways at the waist, bringing your elbow down towards your hip.
- Pause for a moment at the bottom, then slowly return to the starting position.
- Repeat for the desired number of repetitions, then switch sides.
Muscles worked
Primary: Abs
Secondary: Obliques
Is your Cable Side Crunch good?
Enter your bodyweight to compare against Buffro's nine strength ranks. The source is Buffro's exercise-specific standards, not a generic chart copied across every movement.
| Buffro rank | Estimated 1RM |
|---|---|
| Beginner | 24 kg |
| Novice | 32.5 kg |
| Intermediate | 41 kg |
| Advanced | 53 kg |
| Expert | 65 kg |
| Veteran | 79.5 kg |
| Elite | 94 kg |
| Master | 110 kg |
| Apex | 126 kg |
These are estimated one-rep-max targets for adults under 40, scaled to bodyweight. Enter the total external load recorded in Buffro. They are training benchmarks, not medical or safety limits.
The table uses the same nine tiers as the Buffro app for Cable Side Crunch.
Sets and reps
Use an easy load and stop well before failure while you learn the movement.
Finish most sets with 1-3 good reps still available.
Use strict form and progress the load only after the top of the rep range is clean.
Common mistakes
- Letting the weight stack pull you out of position. Keep tension on the cable and return each Cable Side Crunch rep under control.
- Shortening the range as fatigue builds. Use the largest pain-free range that keeps tension on your abs.
- Turning the set into a speed contest. Pause briefly in the hardest position, then control the return instead of dropping into the next rep.
Cable Side Crunch FAQ
What muscles does the Cable Side Crunch work?
The primary target is abs. It also involves obliques while you keep the movement controlled.
How many sets and reps should I do for the Cable Side Crunch?
Start with 3 sets in a repeatable range. Use 6-12 reps for most compound work or 10-15 for smaller isolation work, then add load after you can complete every rep cleanly.
How should I read the Cable Side Crunch strength standards?
Compare estimated one-rep max, not the weight from an arbitrary rep count. Buffro scales the published target to your bodyweight and sex.