Bicycles / Elbow-to-Knee Crunches / Cross-body Crunches
How to Do Bicycles / Elbow-to-Knee Crunches / Cross-body Crunches
- Lie flat on an exercise mat on the floor keeping your lower back straight with no arching of your spine and with your knees bent and feet flat on the floor.
- Place your hands lightly on the sides of your head.
- Curl your torso upwards so your shoulders are slightly raised off the floor..
- Raise your knees until your thighs are at a right angle to the floor and your calves are parallel to the floor. This is the start position.
- Slowly move your legs in a pedaling action as if you are riding a bicycle.
- As you do so, exhale and bring your opposing elbow close to each knee by crunching to one side. Left elbow to right knee. Right elbow to left knee.
- After each crunch, return to the start position inhaling as you do so.
- Without pausing, repeat the movement to the other side.
- Repeat without pausing for the desired number of repetitions to each side.
Related Abs And Obliques Exercises
Bicycles / Elbow-to-Knee Crunches / Cross-body Crunches Exercise Details
Muscles worked
Bicycles / Elbow-to-Knee Crunches / Cross-body Crunches targets abs and obliques and also works glutes & hip flexors and quadriceps. Use the illustration and step-by-step instructions above to learn the movement pattern and practice proper form.
Equipment needed
This is an at-home exercise. Equipment required: no equipment.
Similar exercises
Related exercises that work similar muscle groups include Seated ab contractions, modified bicycles / elbow-to-knee crunches / cross-body crunches and resistance / weighted crunches. Browse our free illustrated exercise directory for more exercises.
Use this exercise in a workout
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