Equipment for Thigh Crunches

Crunches help build muscle in your legs, around your hips and in your abdominal region. Muscles worked include your quadriceps, gluteals, abductors and adductors. While many gyms have machines to target each of these muscles individually or in combination, there are several lower-cost options that you can use.

  1. Thigh Muscles in Crunches

    • There are any number of variants to a crunch, but the majority require you to stabilize part of your back -- upper, lower or full -- against the floor or a support. Depending on the type of crunch, lift your lower or upper body upwards so that gravity and your body weight exercise your abdominal and thigh muscles. To increase your thigh muscle engagement — particularly the quadriceps, abductor and adductor muscles — lift your lower body in tandem with your upper body and use an exercise aid to increase the effort expended by your thighs.

    Body Weight Only

    • The cheapest, simplest and most readily accessible thigh crunch is the one that requires no additional equipment. While exercise equipment and tools can easily increase the intensity of a workout, a thigh crunch can be done with no extra equipment. A bicycle crunch, where your elbows and knees on opposite sides are directed towards one another in sequence — right elbow with your left knee, followed by your left elbow to your right knee — can provide a stimulating and intense workout if done properly for an extended duration.

    Resistance Bands

    • Resistance bands are inexpensive to purchase and long lasting, making them a worthwhile investment for home exercise equipment if you don’t have access to a gym. Attach one end of the cable to a firmly secured object (a door is a good idea) and the other end to your feet. As you lift your legs as part of the crunch, your thigh muscles encounter the resistance from the bands and get more of a workout. You can also attach the ends of the band to each foot, keeping one leg still as you do your crunch. In this case, make sure to switch up which leg is kept stationary to ensure an even workout on both sides.

    Exercise Ball

    • Exercise balls are large, inflated rubber balls that come in a range of sizes, are inexpensive and are easily stored away, making them ideal for home exercise. To use in thigh crunches, place the ball between either your ankles or your knees when you are in position to do crunches. Lift your legs upwards at the same time that you lift your upper body. For more intensity, squeeze your legs inward — squashing the ball as much as possible — when you do your crunch. This addition works your abductor and adductor muscles and lengthens the muscles along the sides of your thighs.