Core · Bodyweight
Lying Elbow to Knee
How to do the lying elbow to knee, 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
- Rotation
- Mechanic
- Isolation
How to do it
Lie on your back with hands behind your head and knees bent. Crunch up and rotate so one elbow reaches toward the opposite knee as that knee draws in, then switch sides each rep in a controlled bicycle-style motion.
- 1Obliques twisting elbow toward opposite knee
- 2Abs staying braced through the rotation
- 3A controlled switch from side to side
Common mistakes
- Yanking on the neck to pull yourself up
- Racing through reps and losing the rotation
- Letting the lower back arch off the floor
Muscles worked
The lying elbow to knee 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 lying elbow to knee 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.