Core · Bodyweight
Lying Tuck Crunch
How to do the lying tuck crunch, the muscles it works, and the mistakes to avoid. Pulled straight from the Kovo app's exercise library.
- Equipment
- Bodyweight
- Difficulty
- Beginner
- Logged as
- Weighted reps
- Movement
- Flexion
- Mechanic
- Isolation
How to do it
Lie on your back with your hands by your sides or behind your head. Crunch your upper body up while drawing both knees in toward your chest at the same time, then extend back out with control.
- 1Your abs crunching as your knees and chest draw together
- 2Your lower abs pulling the knees in
- 3A full contraction at the top before you extend
Common mistakes
- Swinging your legs for momentum
- Letting your shoulders and feet drop heavily between reps
- Straining your neck instead of leading with your abs
Muscles worked
The lying tuck crunch mainly works the lower abs and upper abs, with the hip flexors and obliques assisting.
- Lower AbsPrimary
- Upper AbsPrimary
- Hip FlexorsSupport
- ObliquesSupport
- QuadsMinor
Kovo programs the lying tuck crunch 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.