Core · Bodyweight
Seated Lean Back Open and Close on a Chair
How to do the seated lean back open and close on a chair, 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
Sit on the edge of a chair and lean your torso back to a slight angle, holding the sides for support. Lift both feet off the floor with knees bent, then open your knees apart and bring them back together in a controlled motion while keeping your core engaged.
- 1Feel your lower abs hold your torso steady in the leaned-back position
- 2Feel your inner thighs and hips work as your knees open and close
- 3Keep constant tension by not resting your feet down between reps
Common mistakes
- Don't let your lower back round or collapse as you lean back
- Avoid using momentum to fling your knees open
- Don't hold your breath; keep breathing steadily
Muscles worked
The seated lean back open and close on a chair mainly works the lower abs, with the upper abs, hip flexors, obliques, and adductors assisting.
- Lower AbsPrimary
- Upper AbsSupport
- Hip FlexorsSupport
- ObliquesSupport
- AdductorsSupport
- QuadsMinor
- GlutesMinor
Kovo programs the seated lean back open and close on a chair 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.