Core · Bodyweight
Bent Over Twist
How to do the bent over twist, the muscles it works, and the mistakes to avoid. Pulled straight from the Kovo app's exercise library.
- Equipment
- Bodyweight
- Difficulty
- Beginner
- Logged as
- Reps
- Movement
- Rotation
- Mechanic
- Isolation
How to do it
Hinge forward at the hips with a flat back and arms extended out to the sides. Rotate your torso to reach one hand toward the opposite foot, then twist back the other way, keeping the movement controlled through your trunk.
- 1Obliques and trunk rotating side to side
- 2Flat back and braced core throughout the twist
- 3Stretch across your lower back and hamstrings
Common mistakes
- Rounding your back as you hinge over
- Twisting fast and jerking through the rotation
- Letting your knees lock; keep a soft bend
Muscles worked
The bent over twist mainly works the obliques, with the lower back, lower abs, upper abs, and hamstrings assisting.
- ObliquesPrimary
- Lower BackSupport
- Lower AbsSupport
- Upper AbsSupport
- HamstringsSupport
- LatsMinor
- Mid TrapsMinor
- GlutesMinor
- Side DeltsMinor
- Hip FlexorsMinor
Kovo programs the bent over twist 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.