Core · Bodyweight
Lean Back Tap Ankle Tap
How to do the lean back tap ankle tap, 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
- Flexion
- Mechanic
- Isolation
How to do it
Sit on the floor with knees bent and feet flat. Lean your torso back to load the core, then crunch up and reach side to side to tap each ankle, keeping tension through the abs the whole time.
- 1Abs staying tight as you lean back
- 2Obliques working as you reach to each ankle
- 3A controlled side-to-side rhythm
Common mistakes
- Do not let your lower back collapse when leaning back
- Do not use momentum to swing side to side
- Do not strain your neck reaching for the ankles
Muscles worked
The lean back tap ankle tap mainly works the obliques and upper abs, with the lower abs and hip flexors assisting.
- ObliquesPrimary
- Upper AbsPrimary
- Lower AbsSupport
- Hip FlexorsSupport
- QuadsMinor
Kovo programs the lean back tap ankle tap 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.