Core · Bodyweight
Lying Leg Raise
How to do the lying leg 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 your legs extended and hands at your sides or under your hips. Keeping your legs straight, raise them up toward 90 degrees, then lower them slowly without letting your feet touch the floor. Keep your lower back pressed into the ground throughout.
- 1Feel your lower abs lifting your legs while keeping them straight
- 2Keep your lower back pressed into the floor for core engagement
- 3Lower your legs slowly to keep tension on the abs
Common mistakes
- Avoid arching your back; reduce the range if it lifts
- Don't swing your legs; move deliberately
- Avoid straining your neck; keep your head relaxed on the floor
Muscles worked
The lying leg 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
- ForearmsMinor
- QuadsMinor
Lying Leg Raise strength standards
See how your lying leg raise ranks, from Bronze to Champion. These are the same standards the Kovo app uses to rank your lifts.
Bronze4 reps
Silver9 reps
Gold40 reps
Platinum77 reps
Diamond98 reps
Champion117 reps
Find your rank
Enter your best set of reps.
Kovo tracks this rank automatically as you train, across every lift, and levels you up as you get stronger.
Kovo programs the lying leg 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.