Core · Bodyweight
Backward Abdominal Stretch
How to do the backward abdominal stretch, the muscles it works, and the mistakes to avoid. Pulled straight from the Kovo app's exercise library.
- Equipment
- Bodyweight
- Difficulty
- Beginner
- Logged as
- time
- Movement
- Extension
- Mechanic
- Isolation
How to do it
Stand with feet hip-width apart and place your hands on your lower back for support. Gently lean back and arch your upper body, opening the front of the torso, until you feel a stretch across the abs, then ease back to standing.
- 1A stretch opening across the front of the abs and hips
- 2The chest lifting and opening as you arch back
- 3Support from the hands keeping the low back comfortable
Common mistakes
- Cranking into a deep arch that pinches the low back
- Dropping the head back sharply
- Bouncing instead of holding a steady stretch
Muscles worked
The backward abdominal stretch mainly works the upper abs, with the lower abs and obliques assisting.
- Upper AbsPrimary
- Lower AbsSupport
- ObliquesSupport
- Upper ChestMinor
- Hip FlexorsMinor
Kovo programs the backward abdominal stretch for you and tracks it every session.
We build your whole program, drop the right lifts into each workout, and adjust your weights as you get stronger. Free on iOS and Android.
More abs & core exercises
- How to do the ab wheel rollout
- How to do the ankle tap plank
- How to do the ankle taps
- How to do the resistance band dead bugs
- How to do the resistance band pallof press
- How to do the rollout
Last reviewed June 2026.