Core · Bodyweight
Single Straight Leg Stretch
How to do the single straight leg stretch, 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 on your back and curl your head and shoulders up. Raise one straight leg toward you and hold it at the calf or ankle, giving it two gentle pulls, while the other leg extends out low. Switch legs in a controlled scissor rhythm, keeping your core engaged.
- 1Feel your abs anchoring your torso as the legs scissor
- 2Feel a light stretch in the hamstring of the raised leg
- 3Keep your shoulders lifted and your neck loose
Common mistakes
- Do not let your lower back pop off the floor
- Avoid pulling the leg with jerky bounces
- Do not strain your neck by yanking with your hands
Muscles worked
The single straight leg stretch mainly works the lower abs, with the upper abs, hip flexors, and hamstrings assisting.
- Lower AbsPrimary
- Upper AbsSupport
- Hip FlexorsSupport
- HamstringsSupport
- ObliquesMinor
- QuadsMinor
Kovo programs the single straight leg stretch 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.