Core · Bodyweight
Lying Knee Raise
How to do the lying knee raise, 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
Lie flat on your back with legs extended and hands by your sides. Bend your knees and pull them up toward your chest, engaging your abs, then lower your feet back down with control without letting them touch the floor.
- 1Feel your lower abs pull your knees toward your chest
- 2Keep your lower back pressed into the floor the whole time
- 3Control the lowering phase to keep tension on the abs
Common mistakes
- Don't swing your legs or use momentum
- Don't lift your head or strain your neck
- Don't let your lower back arch off the ground
Muscles worked
The lying knee raise mainly works the lower abs and hip flexors, with the upper abs, obliques, and glutes assisting.
- Lower AbsPrimary
- Hip FlexorsPrimary
- Upper AbsSupport
- ObliquesSupport
- GlutesSupport
- QuadsMinor
Kovo programs the lying knee 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.