Lying Straight Leg Raise
The Lying Straight Leg Raise primarily works the Iliopsoas, with secondary activation of the Adductor Brevis, Adductor Longus, Pectineus, Rectus Femoris, Sartorius, Tensor Fasciae Latae and stabilizer support from the External Obliques, Rectus Abdominis. It is a bodyweight isolation exercise at intermediate difficulty.
A bodyweight isolation pull exercise targeting the Iliopsoas.
| Equipment | Bodyweight |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | Intermediate |
| Type | Isolation |
| Movement | Flexion |
| Force | Pull |
| Laterality | Bilateral |
| Primary | Iliopsoas |
| Secondary | Adductor Brevis, Adductor Longus, Pectineus, Rectus Femoris, Sartorius, Tensor Fasciae Latae |
Muscles Worked
Front
Back
Primary
Secondary
Stabilizer
Primary Muscles
- Primary Muscle Iliopsoas (hip_flexors)
Secondary Muscles
- Secondary Muscle Adductor Brevis (adductors)
- Secondary Muscle Adductor Longus (adductors)
- Secondary Muscle Pectineus (adductors)
- Secondary Muscle Rectus Femoris (quadriceps)
- Secondary Muscle Sartorius (hip_flexors)
- Secondary Muscle Tensor Fasciae Latae (hip_flexors)
Stabilizer Muscles
- Stabilizer Muscle External Obliques (core)
- Stabilizer Muscle Rectus Abdominis (core)
Instructions
- Preparation: Lie supine on bench or mat. Place hands under lower buttock on each side to support pelvis. Execution: Keeping knees straight, raise legs by flexing hips until hips are completely flexed. Return until hips and knees are extended. Repeat. Comments: Rectus Abdominis and Obliques onlycontract dynamicallyif actual waist flexion occurs. With no waist flexion, Rectus Abdominis and External Oblique will only act to stabilize pelvis and waist during hip flexion. It may be necessary to completely flex hips before waist flexion is possible, as in leg-hip raise. Attempting to perform Lying Straight Leg Hip Raise would not load waist and hip flexors after they travel beyond vertical so that sort of movement would need to be performed on steep incline or vertical position, requiring much greater strength. Also seeSpot Reduction MythandLower Ab Myth.
Alternative Exercises
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