Core · Bodyweight
Incline Hip Raise
How to do the incline hip raise, the muscles it works, and the mistakes to avoid. Pulled straight from the Kovo app's exercise library.
- Equipment
- Bodyweight
- Difficulty
- Intermediate
- Logged as
- Weighted reps
- Movement
- Flexion
- Mechanic
- Isolation
How to do it
Lie face up on an incline bench with your head at the high end and grip the bench behind your head for support. With your legs extended, lift your hips and curl your knees toward your chest, raising your pelvis off the bench, then lower back down with control along the incline.
- 1Feel your lower abs lift your hips off the bench
- 2Curl your pelvis up rather than just kicking your legs
- 3Keep your upper body anchored by gripping the bench
Common mistakes
- Don't swing your legs to gain momentum
- Avoid pulling with your arms; let your abs do the work
- Don't drop your hips fast; lower under control
Muscles worked
The incline hip raise mainly works the lower abs, with the upper abs, hip flexors, and obliques assisting.
- Lower AbsPrimary
- Upper AbsSupport
- Hip FlexorsSupport
- ObliquesSupport
- ForearmsMinor
- LatsMinor
- GlutesMinor
Kovo programs the incline hip raise 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.