Core · Bodyweight
Lying Leg Raise and Hold
How to do the lying leg raise and hold, 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
How to do it
Lie flat on your back with your legs straight and hands under your hips for support. Keeping the legs straight, raise them together until they point toward the ceiling, then hold at the top for a beat. Lower under control to just above the floor without letting the lower back arch, then repeat.
- 1Lower abs lifting and holding the legs
- 2A braced core keeping the lower back flat
- 3Constant tension during the hold at the top
Common mistakes
- Letting the lower back arch off the floor
- Dropping the legs fast and using momentum
- Bending the knees to cheat the raise
Muscles worked
The lying leg raise and hold mainly works the lower abs and hip flexors, with the upper abs and obliques assisting.
- Lower AbsPrimary
- Hip FlexorsPrimary
- Upper AbsSupport
- ObliquesSupport
- QuadsMinor
- HamstringsMinor
Kovo programs the lying leg raise and hold 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.