Lying Leg Raise
Raising straight legs from a lying position — a core exercise that emphasizes the lower abs.
Also called: leg raises, lying leg raises, leg raise
Illustrations: Exercise data by RepDB (repdb.co)
Setup
Lie flat on your back, legs extended, hands at your sides or tucked under your lower back for support.
How to do the Lying Leg Raise
- Raise both legs together until they're vertical (or as high as control allows).
- Pause briefly at the top.
- Lower the legs slowly without letting them touch the floor between reps.
- Keep the lower back pressed into the floor throughout.
Lying Leg Raise muscles worked
The Lying Leg Raise works the abs and hip flexors.
Common Lying Leg Raise mistakes
- Letting the lower back arch off the floor.
- Using momentum to swing the legs up.
- Dropping the legs too fast on the way down.
Scale it
Easier: Bend the knees slightly, or reduce range of motion.
Harder: Add a pause at the top, or slow the lowering to 3 seconds.
Pairs well with
Hollow Hold
The gymnast’s banana-shaped hold — total anterior-core tension that transfers to a stable, tall running posture.
V-Up
Folding the body into a V shape from a lying position — a dynamic core exercise that hits the abs top to bottom.
Bicycle Crunch
Alternating elbow-to-opposite-knee crunches with a cycling leg action — abs and obliques with a coordination element.
Crunch
The classic short-range ab curl — simple direct ab work when programmed alongside the stability movements.