Core · Bodyweight
Straight Leg Crossed Arms Sit-up
How to do the straight leg crossed arms sit-up, 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 with legs straight and arms crossed over your chest. Sit all the way up toward your thighs, then lower your torso back down under control to the floor.
- 1Abs pulling the torso up off the floor
- 2Hip flexors assisting as you reach the top
- 3A controlled descent back to the start
Common mistakes
- Do not throw your arms or swing up with momentum
- Do not let your heels lift off the floor
- Do not drop your torso back down uncontrolled
Muscles worked
The straight leg crossed arms sit-up mainly works the upper abs and hip flexors, with the lower abs and obliques assisting.
- Upper AbsPrimary
- Hip FlexorsPrimary
- Lower AbsSupport
- ObliquesSupport
- QuadsMinor
- Tibialis AnteriorMinor
Kovo programs the straight leg crossed arms sit-up 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.