Exercise Comparison
Ab Roller vs Cross-Body Crunch




Side-by-Side
Muscle Analysis
Shared
Only in Ab Roller
Instructions
Ab Roller
Hold the Ab Roller with both hands and kneel on the floor.
Now place the ab roller on the floor in front of you so that you are on all your hands and knees (as in a kneeling push up position). This will be your starting position.
Slowly roll the ab roller straight forward, stretching your body into a straight position. Tip: Go down as far as you can without touching the floor with your body. Breathe in during this portion of the movement.
After a pause at the stretched position, start pulling yourself back to the starting position as you breathe out. Tip: Go slowly and keep your abs tight at all times.
Cross-Body Crunch
Lie flat on your back and bend your knees about 60 degrees.
Keep your feet flat on the floor and place your hands loosely behind your head. This will be your starting position.
Now curl up and bring your right elbow and shoulder across your body while bring your left knee in toward your left shoulder at the same time. Reach with your elbow and try to touch your knee. Exhale as you perform this movement. Tip: Try to bring your shoulder up towards your knee rather than just your elbow and remember that the key is to contract the abs as you perform the movement; not just to move the elbow.
Now go back down to the starting position as you inhale and repeat with the left elbow and the right knee.
Continue alternating in this manner until all prescribed repetitions are done.
Verdict
Both exercises target the abdominals. Ab Roller is a intermediate exercise using other, while Cross-Body Crunch is beginner and uses bodyweight. Choose Cross-Body Crunch if you're looking for a more accessible option, or Ab Roller for a greater challenge.