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Exercise guide

Hanging Leg Raise

How to do the Hanging Leg Raise with correct form, the muscles it works, and where it fits a training plan you actually stick to.

IsolationBody OnlyExpertPull
Primary muscles

Abs

Secondary

,

Equipment

Body Only

Step by step

How to do the Hanging Leg Raise

  1. 1

    Hang from a chin-up bar with both arms extended at arms length in top of you using either a wide grip or a medium grip. The legs should be straight down with the pelvis rolled slightly backwards. This will be your starting position.

  2. 2

    Raise your legs until the torso makes a 90-degree angle with the legs. Exhale as you perform this movement and hold the contraction for a second or so.

  3. 3

    Go back slowly to the starting position as you breathe in.

  4. 4

    Repeat for the recommended amount of repetitions.

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Every Hanging Leg Raise set you log feeds Ascend's anatomy heatmap, so your abs volume is visible at a glance, and counts toward your bodyweight-strength tier.

Related

More abs exercises

FAQ

Hanging Leg Raise: common questions

What muscles does the Hanging Leg Raise work?

The Hanging Leg Raise primarily works the Abs.

Is the Hanging Leg Raise suitable for beginners?

The Hanging Leg Raise is an expert-level exercise. It demands well-developed strength, mobility and technique, so it suits experienced lifters more than beginners.

What equipment do I need for the Hanging Leg Raise?

None. The Hanging Leg Raise is a bodyweight exercise, so you can do it without any equipment.

Is the Hanging Leg Raise a compound or isolation exercise?

The Hanging Leg Raise is an isolation exercise, it targets the abs through a single joint, which makes it useful for focused, targeted work.

How do I do the Hanging Leg Raise with correct form?

Hang from a chin-up bar with both arms extended at arms length in top of you using either a wide grip or a medium grip. The legs should be straight down with the pelvis rolled slightly backwards. This will be your starting position. Follow the full step-by-step above for the complete movement.

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