Ab exercises

Captain's Chair Leg Raise

Also known as: Relevés de jambes à la chaise romaine · Ανυψώσεις ποδιών στο δίζυγο · Leg Raise Parallel Bars · vertical leg raise

Primary
Abs
Equipment
Bodyweight
Type
Isolation
Suggested rest
1 min

How to do the Captain's Chair Leg Raise

  1. Rest your forearms on the pads, back against the backrest, legs hanging.

  2. Brace your core and raise your legs, almost straight, to hip height or higher.

  3. Tilt your pelvis up slightly at the top without using momentum.

  4. Lower your legs slowly.

Sets and reps

GoalSetsRepsRest
Muscle growth2–410–151 min
Muscular endurance2–315–2545 s

When you hit the top of the rep range on every set, add a rep or a harder variation next session.

Starting points from training research. Stop each set 1–3 reps short of failure.

Muscles worked

Primary

Abs

Secondary

Obliques

The abs flex your spine and stop it from arching. Mix crunching moves (crunches, leg raises) with anti-extension work (planks, rollouts).

Train smarter

Bodyweight ab exercises