Core · Bodyweight
Standing Side Bend Stretch
How to do the standing side bend 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
- time
- Movement
- Extension
- Mechanic
- Isolation
How to do it
Stand tall with feet hip-width. Reach one arm overhead and lean your torso directly to the opposite side until you feel a stretch along your ribs and waist. Hold, then return upright and switch sides.
- 1Feel the stretch lengthen along your side and waist
- 2Keep your hips square and reach long through the top arm
- 3Lean straight to the side without twisting
Common mistakes
- Do not lean forward or backward as you bend
- Avoid bouncing into the stretch
- Do not let your hips push out to the opposite side
Muscles worked
The standing side bend stretch mainly works the obliques, with the lats, lower back, and lower abs assisting.
- ObliquesPrimary
- LatsSupport
- Lower BackSupport
- Lower AbsSupport
- Upper AbsMinor
- Front DeltsMinor
Kovo programs the standing side bend 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.