What muscles does Vertical Straight Leg Raise work?

Primary: Iliopsoas. Secondary: Adductor Brevis, Adductor Longus, Pectineus, Rectus Femoris, Sartorius, Tensor Fasciae Latae. Stabilizers: Brachialis, External Obliques, Latissimus Dorsi, Pectoralis Major (Sternal), Pectoralis Minor, Rectus Abdominis, Trapezius (Lower).

What equipment do I need for Vertical Straight Leg Raise?

Vertical Straight Leg Raise is a bodyweight exercise that requires no equipment.

How do I perform Vertical Straight Leg Raise?

Preparation: Position forearms on padded parallel bars with hands on handles, and back on vertical pad. Execution: With knees straight, raise legs by flexing hips until thighs are just pass parallel to floor. Return until hips 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. Also seeSpot Reduction MythandLower Ab Myth.

Vertical Straight Leg Raise

The Vertical 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 Brachialis, External Obliques, Latissimus Dorsi, Pectoralis Major (Sternal), Pectoralis Minor, Rectus Abdominis, Trapezius (Lower). 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

Instructions

Preparation: Position forearms on padded parallel bars with hands on handles, and back on vertical pad. Execution: With knees straight, raise legs by flexing hips until thighs are just pass parallel to floor. Return until hips 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. Also seeSpot Reduction MythandLower Ab Myth.

Vertical Straight 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)