Crunch vs Cable Side Bend

Maximizing Your Core Workout Plan

Contents

Planfit users log Crunch more often — 29,245 sessions vs 138. Compare Core form, muscles worked, and when to use each.

Customize Your Core Workout: Explore the Benefits of Crunch and Cable Side Bend for Better Comparison.

Planfit Users' Choice about Crunch vs Cable Side Bend : Which is Better?

Based on randomly selected data from 1 million completed workouts, Planfit users log Crunch more often — 29,245 sessions compared to 138 for Cable Side Bend.

Popularity is not the whole answer. Crunch and Cable Side Bend differ in the muscles they load, the equipment they need, and how hard they are to learn — the comparison below covers each.

How Crunch and Cable Side Bend Differ

What differsCrunchCable Side Bend
Equipmentbodyweight onlya machine
One side at a timeNoYes
Difficulty1 of 55 of 5
Sessions logged by Planfit users29,245 sessions138 sessions

Related comparisons

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How to Crunch

Crunch gif

Crunch muscles worked: Core

Form

  1. 1. Please lift your upper body while keeping your back straight.
  2. 2. Slowly return to the starting position.

Coach's Comment

  1. 1. If you lift your upper body excessively, it can strain your lower back, so please lift your upper body without raising your back.
  2. 2. If your neck hurts, support your head with your hands and relax your neck while proceeding.

If you want to know a detailed guide to Crunch, alternative exercises, and its benefits, check it out here. Check out the Crunch Guide page of our blog!

Do you want to know more about Crunch methods?Exercise Guide

How to Cable Side Bend

Cable Side Bend gif

Cable Side Bend muscles worked: Core

Form

  1. 1. Bend your upper body down in the opposite direction of the cable.
  2. 2. Slowly return to the starting position.

Coach's Comment

  1. 1. Don't bend your waist excessively; move only within a natural range.
  2. 2. Avoid lifting weights that are too heavy and maintain your balance to prevent your body from tilting.

If you want to know a detailed guide to Cable Side Bend, alternative exercises, and its benefits, check it out here. Check out the Cable Side Bend Guide page of our blog!

Do you want to know more about Cable Side Bend methods?Exercise Guide

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better for Core, Crunch or Cable Side Bend?

Planfit users log Crunch more often — 29,245 sessions against 138 for Cable Side Bend. Both train Core, so pick the one that matches the equipment you have and the muscles you want to load.

What equipment do Crunch and Cable Side Bend need?

Crunch needs bodyweight only, and Cable Side Bend needs a machine.

Which is easier to start with?

Crunch is the easier place to start. Move to Cable Side Bend once your form holds up.

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