Core · Dumbbell
Dumbbell Straight Arm Twisting Sit-up
How to do the dumbbell straight arm twisting sit-up, the muscles it works, and the mistakes to avoid. Pulled straight from the Kovo app's exercise library.
- Equipment
- Dumbbell
- Difficulty
- Intermediate
- Logged as
- Weighted reps
- Movement
- Rotation
- Mechanic
- Compound
How to do it
Lie on your back with knees bent, holding a dumbbell in both hands with arms extended straight overhead. Sit all the way up while rotating your torso to one side, reaching the dumbbell past that hip, then lower and alternate sides.
- 1Feel your abs sit you up while your obliques drive the twist to each side
- 2Keep your arms locked so the dumbbell stays over your chest as you rise
- 3Rotate from your trunk and reach the weight past your hip
Common mistakes
- Don't swing the dumbbell to yank yourself up
- Avoid pulling with your neck or shoulders
- Don't let your feet pop up; keep them anchored
Muscles worked
The dumbbell straight arm twisting sit-up mainly works the obliques and upper abs, with the lower abs and hip flexors assisting.
- ObliquesPrimary
- Upper AbsPrimary
- Lower AbsSupport
- Hip FlexorsSupport
- ForearmsMinor
- LatsMinor
- Lower BackMinor
- QuadsMinor
- Front DeltsMinor
Kovo programs the dumbbell straight arm twisting sit-up 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.