Core · Bodyweight
Side Bend Arms Above
How to do the side bend arms above, 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
- Extension
- Mechanic
- Isolation
How to do it
Stand tall with your feet hip-width apart and reach both arms straight overhead, hands clasped. Without rotating or leaning forward, bend your torso directly to one side until you feel a stretch along the opposite waist, then use your obliques to pull back to center. Alternate sides.
- 1Feel your obliques stretch on the long side and contract to pull you
- 2upright
- 3Keep your hips square and your spine tall as you bend
- 4Reach long through your overhead arms to lengthen the side
Common mistakes
- Avoid rotating your torso or leaning forward as you bend
- Don't bend backward; move straight to the side
- Avoid using momentum; move slowly and with control
Muscles worked
The side bend arms above mainly works the obliques, with the upper abs and lower abs assisting.
- ObliquesPrimary
- Upper AbsSupport
- Lower AbsSupport
- LatsMinor
- Lower BackMinor
- Upper TrapsMinor
- QuadsMinor
- Front DeltsMinor
- Side DeltsMinor
Kovo programs the side bend arms above 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.