Core · Bodyweight
Straight Leg Opposite Sit-up
How to do the straight leg opposite sit-up, 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
Lie on your back with legs straight. Sit up and reach one hand across to the opposite foot or shin, twisting through your torso. Lower under control and alternate the reaching arm each rep.
- 1Feel your upper abs and obliques pull you up and across
- 2Reach toward the opposite foot to drive the twist
- 3Keep the movement controlled on the way down
Common mistakes
- Do not yank on your neck with your hand
- Avoid using momentum to swing yourself up
- Do not let your legs lift off the floor as you rise
Muscles worked
The straight leg opposite sit-up mainly works the upper abs and obliques, with the lower abs and hip flexors assisting.
- Upper AbsPrimary
- ObliquesPrimary
- Lower AbsSupport
- Hip FlexorsSupport
- QuadsMinor
Kovo programs the straight leg opposite 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.