What equipment do you need for the leg raise hip lift with head-up?

The leg raise hip lift with head-up is a bodyweight exercise and needs no equipment.

Core · Bodyweight

Leg Raise Hip Lift with Head-up

How to do the leg raise hip lift with head-up, the muscles it works, and the mistakes to avoid. Pulled straight from the Kovo app's exercise library.

Equipment: Bodyweight
Difficulty: Intermediate
Logged as: Reps
Movement: Flexion
Mechanic: Isolation

Find more:Abs & Core exercises Bodyweight exercises

How to do it

Lie on your back with your legs raised straight toward the ceiling and your head and shoulders lifted slightly off the floor. Press your feet upward and curl your hips off the ground, then lower with control while keeping your head up and abs engaged throughout. Repeat without resting your hips down.

1Your lower abs driving your hips straight up off the floor
2Constant tension from keeping your head and shoulders lifted
3Control as your hips lower back down

Common mistakes

Swinging your legs to bounce your hips up
Pushing into the floor with your hands to cheat
Letting your head drop and the abs relax between reps

Muscles worked

The leg raise hip lift with head-up mainly works the lower abs, with the upper abs, hip flexors, and obliques assisting.

Lower AbsPrimary
Upper AbsSupport
Hip FlexorsSupport
ObliquesSupport
Upper TrapsMinor
QuadsMinor
GlutesMinor
HamstringsMinor

Kovo programs the leg raise hip lift with head-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.

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Last reviewed June 2026.