Captains Chair Leg Raise vs Reverse Crunch

Which one fits your Core workout plan?

Contents

Planfit users log Captains Chair Leg Raise more often — 9,849 sessions vs 1,477. Compare Core form, muscles worked, and when to use each.

Compare the benefits of Captains Chair Leg Raise and Reverse Crunch and pick the one that fits your Core workout.

Captains Chair Leg Raise vs Reverse Crunch: Which Do Planfit Users Choose?

Based on randomly selected data from 1 million completed workouts, Planfit users log Captains Chair Leg Raise more often — 9,849 sessions compared to 1,477 for Reverse Crunch.

What most people do isn't always what fits you. Captains Chair Leg Raise and Reverse Crunch differ in the muscles they work, the equipment they need, and how hard they are to learn — the comparison below covers each.

How Captains Chair Leg Raise and Reverse Crunch Differ

What differsCaptains Chair Leg RaiseReverse Crunch
Muscles workedabs and quadsabs
Equipmenta machinebodyweight only
Difficulty1 of 52 of 5
Sessions logged by Planfit users9,849 sessions1,477 sessions

Related comparisons

Not sure whether Captains Chair Leg Raise or Reverse Crunch fits your goal? Get a personalized plan

How to Do Captains Chair Leg Raise

Captains Chair Leg Raise demo video

Captains Chair Leg Raise Muscles Worked: Core

Form

  1. 1. Keep your legs straight and lift them up to your waist.
  2. 2. Slowly return to the starting position.

Coach's Tips

  1. 1. Beginners, be careful not to excessively arch your lower back, and slowly lift your legs.
  2. 2. When lifting your legs, do not use momentum, and focus on lifting only with the strength of your lower abdominal muscles.

For a full Captains Chair Leg Raise guide with alternatives and benefits, see the Captains Chair Leg Raise exercise guide.

Want to learn more about Captains Chair Leg Raise?Exercise Guide

How to Do Reverse Crunch

Reverse Crunch demo video

Reverse Crunch Muscles Worked: Core

Form

  1. 1. Bend your knees so that they are perpendicular to the ground while lying on the floor.
  2. 2. Engage your abs as if your knees are touching your chest and lift your hips up.
  3. 3. Hold this position for about 1 second, then slowly return to the starting position.

Coach's Tips

  1. Be careful not to lift your lower back excessively off the floor, and focus on engaging your abdominal muscles.

For a full Reverse Crunch guide with alternatives and benefits, see the Reverse Crunch exercise guide.

Want to learn more about Reverse Crunch?Exercise Guide

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better for Core, Captains Chair Leg Raise or Reverse Crunch?

Planfit users log Captains Chair Leg Raise more often — 9,849 sessions against 1,477 for Reverse Crunch. Both train Core, so pick the one that matches the equipment you have and the muscles you want to load.

Do Captains Chair Leg Raise and Reverse Crunch work the same muscles?

Not quite. Captains Chair Leg Raise loads abs and quads, and Reverse Crunch loads abs.

What equipment do Captains Chair Leg Raise and Reverse Crunch need?

Captains Chair Leg Raise needs a machine, and Reverse Crunch needs bodyweight only.

Which is easier to start with?

Captains Chair Leg Raise is the easier place to start. Move to Reverse Crunch once your form holds up.

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