Legs · Bodyweight

Clamshell Sit Agains Wall

How to do the clamshell sit agains wall, the muscles it works, and the mistakes to avoid. Pulled straight from the Kovo app's exercise library.

Animated demonstration of the Clamshell Sit Agains Wall
Equipment
Bodyweight
Difficulty
Beginner
Logged as
Weighted reps
Movement
Rotation
Mechanic
Isolation

How to do it

Sit on the floor with your back against a wall, knees bent and the soles of your feet together or feet flat. Keeping your feet in contact and your back on the wall, open your top knee outward like a clamshell, then bring it back down under control. Drive the movement from your glute rather than rolling your hips.

  1. 1Feel your outer glute working as the knee opens
  2. 2Keep your back flat against the wall and core braced
  3. 3Move slowly and squeeze at the top of each rep

Common mistakes

  • Don't let your hips roll backward to cheat the range
  • Avoid arching your lower back off the wall
  • Don't rush the open and close; stay controlled

Muscles worked

The clamshell sit agains wall mainly works the glutes, with the external rotators and lower abs assisting.

  • GlutesPrimary
  • External RotatorsSupport
  • Lower AbsSupport
  • Lower BackMinor
  • Upper AbsMinor
  • ObliquesMinor
  • AdductorsMinor
  • Hip FlexorsMinor

Kovo programs the clamshell sit agains wall 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.

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Last reviewed June 2026.