Ab exercises

Alternating Heel Touch

Also known as: Touchers de talons alternés · Εναλλάξ αγγίγματα φτερνών · Alternate Heel Touchers · heel touchers · heel taps

Primary
Abs
Equipment
Bodyweight
Level
Beginner
Type
Isolation
Force
Pull
Suggested rest
1 min

How to do the Alternating Heel Touch

  1. Lie on the floor with the knees bent and the feet on the floor around 18-24 inches apart. Your arms should be extended by your side. This will be your starting position.

  2. Crunch over your torso forward and up about 3-4 inches to the right side and touch your right heel as you hold the contraction for a second. Exhale while performing this movement.

  3. Now go back slowly to the starting position as you inhale.

  4. Now crunch over your torso forward and up around 3-4 inches to the left side and touch your left heel as you hold the contraction for a second. Exhale while performing this movement and then go back to the starting position as you inhale. Now that both heels have been touched, that is considered 1 repetition.

  5. Continue alternating sides in this manner until all prescribed repetitions are done.

Sets and reps

GoalSetsRepsRest
Muscle growth2–410–151 min
Muscular endurance2–315–2545 s

When you hit the top of the rep range on every set, add a rep or a harder variation next session.

Starting points from training research. Stop each set 1–3 reps short of failure.

Muscles worked

Primary

Abs

The abs flex your spine and stop it from arching. Mix crunching moves (crunches, leg raises) with anti-extension work (planks, rollouts).

Train smarter

Bodyweight ab exercises