Bench Leg Raise

Lying on a bench, raising your straight legs loads the lower abs through a bigger range.

• Isolation
• Bodyweight
• Intermediate

How to do it

• Hold the bench behind your head
• Raise your straight legs by curling your pelvis
• Lower under control without arching your lower back

Sets, reps and tempo

Ranges: 8–15 reps or 20–45 s under tension · 1–2 RIR

Tempo: Slow, controlled movement; no momentum and no bouncing

Common mistakes

• Arching your lower back as you lower
• Swinging with momentum

Muscles worked

Primary

• Core / abs

Alternatives

• Hanging Leg Raise
• Reverse Crunch