What equipment do I need for Seated Leg Raise?

Seated Leg Raise is a bodyweight exercise that requires no equipment.

How do I perform Seated Leg Raise?

Preparation: Sit on edge of bench with legs extended to floor. Place weight between ankles or use no weight. Grasp edge of bench. Lean torso back and balance body weight on edge of bench. Execution: Raise legs by flexing hips and knees while pulling torso slightly forward to maintain balance. Return by extending hips and knees and lean torso back to counter balance. Repeat. Comments: Heels may make contact with floor to maintain balance at bottom of movement. 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. Typically, the spine is not extended enough in this movement to constitute significant spinal flexion, so it remains classified as a hip flexor movement. Also known as Seated Leg Tuck or Leg Tuck (across bench). Also seeSpot Reduction MythandLower Ab Myth.

Seated Leg Raise

The Seated Leg Raise primarily works the Iliopsoas, with secondary activation of the Adductor Brevis, Adductor Longus, Pectineus, 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, Sartorius, Tensor Fasciae Latae

Muscles Worked

Front

Back

Primary Secondary Stabilizer

Instructions

Preparation: Sit on edge of bench with legs extended to floor. Place weight between ankles or use no weight. Grasp edge of bench. Lean torso back and balance body weight on edge of bench. Execution: Raise legs by flexing hips and knees while pulling torso slightly forward to maintain balance. Return by extending hips and knees and lean torso back to counter balance. Repeat. Comments: Heels may make contact with floor to maintain balance at bottom of movement. 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. Typically, the spine is not extended enough in this movement to constitute significant spinal flexion, so it remains classified as a hip flexor movement. Also known as Seated Leg Tuck or Leg Tuck (across bench). Also seeSpot Reduction MythandLower Ab Myth.

Seated Leg Raise

Muscles Worked

Primary Muscles

Secondary Muscles

Stabilizer Muscles

Instructions

Alternative Exercises

Cable Lying Leg Raise (on bench)

Cable Lying Straight Leg Raise

Cable Standing Leg Raise

Hanging Straight Leg Raise

Incline Leg Raise

Incline Straight Leg Raise

Lever Hip Flexion

Lever Vertical Leg Raise

Lying Leg Raise (on bench)

Lying Leg Raise (on floor)