Core · Bodyweight
Lying Single Leg Raise
How to do the lying single 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 one leg on the floor, raise the other leg straight up until it is roughly vertical, then lower it slowly without letting it touch down. Complete your reps, then switch legs.
- 1Feel your lower abs and hip flexor lift the leg
- 2Press your low back into the floor the entire time
- 3Lower the leg slowly under control, not letting it drop
Common mistakes
- Don't let your lower back arch up off the floor
- Avoid bending the knee of the working leg
- Don't use momentum to swing the leg up
Muscles worked
The lying single leg raise mainly works the lower abs and hip flexors, with the upper abs and quads assisting.
- Lower AbsPrimary
- Hip FlexorsPrimary
- Upper AbsSupport
- QuadsSupport
- ObliquesMinor
- HamstringsMinor
- AdductorsMinor
- Tibialis AnteriorMinor
Kovo programs the lying single 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.