Cable Russian TwistsMuscles Worked
Cable Russian twists work your abs, especially the obliques, as you rotate your torso away from a cable while your upper back rests on a stability ball. The cable pulls from the side, so tension stays on through the whole turn.
PrimaryAbs
- Equipment
- Cable
- Level
- Beginner
- Type
- Compound
- Force
- Pull
How to do it
- Attach a single handle to a cable pulley set at about the height of your chest when you lie on a stability ball beside the machine.
- Lie with your upper back on the ball, side-on to the machine, feet flat and hips lifted so your body is level from head to knees.
- Grip the handle in both hands and straighten your arms over your chest, adjusting your position so the cable stays taut.
- Keeping your arms straight and hips high, turn your chest away from the machine until your arms point out to the side.
- Pause briefly, return slowly to the start without letting the weight rest, then finish your reps and switch sides.
Form tips
- Turn from your trunk with your arms locked as one unit, rather than swinging the handle with your arms.
- Keep your hips up and level throughout; if they sag, lighten the weight.
- Rotate at a slow, even pace in both directions so momentum doesn't take over.
Why it made the list
No. 13 of 13
Best Ab Exercises
Cable rotational exercise for obliques. Constant tension through the twist provides superior oblique activation.
More ab exercises
See it on your own body map
Log your Cable Russian Twists sets in KasMaker and watch your abs fill in on the map, weighted by how much you did. Logging and the body map are free on iPhone.
