10 Best Lying Leg-hip Raise Alternatives for Home Workouts

Ranked Lying Leg-hip Raise Alternatives

10 substitutes, ranked by how closely each one matches the Lying Leg-hip Raise on movement pattern, muscles worked, equipment and body position. The higher the score, the less you change. Open "How to perform this exercise" on a card for the steps; every card title links to that exercise's own alternatives page.

1. Best match

   

   1. Flat Bench Leg Pull-in

   99% match

   • Abs
   • Bodyweight
   • Beginner
   • Isolation

   Pick this when you want an easier version that still works the abs.

   How to perform this exercise

   1. Lie on an exercise mat or a flat bench with your legs off the end.
   2. Place your hands either under your glutes with your palms down or by the sides holding on to the bench (or with palms down by the side on an exercise mat). Also extend your legs straight out. This will be your starting position.
   3. Bend your knees and pull your upper thighs into your midsection as you breathe out. Continue this movement until your knees are near your chest. Hold the contracted position for a second.
   4. As you breathe in, slowly return to the starting position.
   5. Repeat for the recommended amount of repetitions.

   Sets and reps: 3 sets of 8 to 12 reps, and add reps before you add load.

   Why this matches

   • Primary muscle: abs, the same as the Lying Leg-hip Raise
   • Equipment: bodyweight only, the same as the Lying Leg-hip Raise
   • Body position: lying on your back, the same as the Lying Leg-hip Raise
2. Play demonstration

   2. Reverse Crunch

   99% match

   • Abs
   • Bodyweight
   • Beginner
   • Isolation

   How to perform this exercise

   1. Lie flat on your back with your arms extended along your sides.
   2. Bend your knees and lift your feet off the ground, bringing your thighs perpendicular to the floor.
   3. Contract your abs and curl your hips off the floor, bringing your knees towards your chest.
   4. Pause for a moment at the top, then slowly lower your hips back down to the starting position.
   5. Repeat for the desired number of repetitions.

   Sets and reps: 3 sets of 8 to 12 reps, and add reps before you add load.

   Why this matches

   • Primary muscle: abs, the same as the Lying Leg-hip Raise
   • Equipment: bodyweight only, the same as the Lying Leg-hip Raise
   • Body position: lying on your back, the same as the Lying Leg-hip Raise
3. Play demonstration

   3. Sit-up

   98% match

   • Abs
   • Bodyweight
   • Beginner
   • Isolation

   How to perform this exercise

   1. Lie flat on your back with your knees bent and feet flat on the ground.
   2. Place your hands behind your head with your elbows pointing outwards.
   3. Engaging your abs, slowly lift your upper body off the ground, curling forward until your torso is at a 45-degree angle.
   4. Pause for a moment at the top, then slowly lower your upper body back down to the starting position.
   5. Repeat for the desired number of repetitions.

   Sets and reps: 3 sets of 8 to 12 reps, and add reps before you add load.

   Why this matches

   • Primary muscle: abs, the same as the Lying Leg-hip Raise
   • Equipment: bodyweight only, the same as the Lying Leg-hip Raise
   • Body position: lying on your back, the same as the Lying Leg-hip Raise
4. 

   4. Exercise Ball Crunch

   96% match

   • Abs
   • Stability-ball
   • Beginner
   • Isolation

   A good swap when you have a stability ball to work with, and it still works the abs.

   How to perform this exercise

   1. Lie on an exercise ball with your lower back curvature pressed against the spherical surface of the ball. Your feet should be bent at the knee and pressed firmly against the floor. The upper torso should be hanging off the top of the ball. The arms should either be kept alongside the body or crossed on top of your chest as these positions avoid neck strains (as opposed to the hands behind the back of the head position).
   2. Lower your torso into a stretch position keeping the neck stationary at all times. This will be your starting position.
   3. With the hips stationary, flex the waist by contracting the abdominals and curl the shoulders and trunk upward until you feel a nice contraction on your abdominals. The arms should simply slide up the side of your legs if you have them at the side or just stay on top of your chest if you have them crossed. The lower back should always stay in contact with the ball. Exhale as you perform this movement and hold the contraction for a second.
   4. As you inhale, go back to the starting position.
   5. Repeat for the recommended amount of repetitions.

   Sets and reps: 3 sets of 8 to 12 reps, and add reps before you add load.

   Why this matches

   • Primary muscle: abs, the same as the Lying Leg-hip Raise
   • Equipment: bodyweight only, the same as the Lying Leg-hip Raise
   • Body position: lying on your back, the same as the Lying Leg-hip Raise
   • Balance: harder to stay steady on than the Lying Leg-hip Raise
5. Play demonstration

   5. Arms Overhead Full Sit-up

   95% match

   • Abs
   • Bodyweight
   • Intermediate
   • Isolation

   It uses the same equipment and still works the abs.

   How to perform this exercise

   1. Lie flat on your back with your knees bent and feet flat on the ground.
   2. Extend your arms overhead, keeping them straight.
   3. Engaging your abs, slowly lift your upper body off the ground, curling forward until your torso is upright.
   4. Pause for a moment at the top, then slowly lower your upper body back down to the starting position.
   5. Repeat for the desired number of repetitions.

   Sets and reps: 3 sets of 10 to 15 reps.

   Why this matches

   • Primary muscle: abs, the same as the Lying Leg-hip Raise
   • Equipment: bodyweight only, the same as the Lying Leg-hip Raise
   • Body position: lying on your back, the same as the Lying Leg-hip Raise
6. 

   6. Flat Bench Lying Leg Raise

   95% match

   • Abs
   • Bodyweight
   • Intermediate
   • Isolation

   How to perform this exercise

   1. Lie with your back flat on a bench and your legs extended in front of you off the end.
   2. Place your hands either under your glutes with your palms down or by the sides holding on to the bench. This will be your starting position.
   3. As you keep your legs extended, straight as possible with your knees slightly bent but locked raise your legs until they make a 90-degree angle with the floor. Exhale as you perform this portion of the movement and hold the contraction at the top for a second.
   4. Now, as you inhale, slowly lower your legs back down to the starting position.

   Sets and reps: 3 sets of 10 to 15 reps.

   Why this matches

   • Primary muscle: abs, the same as the Lying Leg-hip Raise
   • Equipment: bodyweight only, the same as the Lying Leg-hip Raise
   • Body position: lying on your back, the same as the Lying Leg-hip Raise
7. 

   7. Frog Sit-ups

   95% match

   • Abs
   • Bodyweight
   • Beginner
   • Isolation

   How to perform this exercise

   1. Lie with your back flat on the floor (or exercise mat) and your legs extended in front of you.
   2. Now bend at the knees and place your outer thighs by the floor (or mat) as you make the soles of your feet touch each other.
   3. Now try pushing both soles and bringing them up as near you as possible while you keep the outer thighs on the floor (or at least almost touching it). Tip: In this position your legs should create a diamond shape.
   4. Now, cross your arms in front of you by touching the opposite shoulders. This will be your starting position.
   5. As you exhale flatten your lower back to the floor while curling the torso upwards. Tip: This will be like performing the first 1/4 movement of a sit up. Hold at the top position for a second.
   6. As you inhale, slowly lower back to the starting position.
   7. Repeat for the recommended amount of repetitions.

   Sets and reps: 3 sets of 8 to 12 reps, and add reps before you add load.

   Why this matches

   • Primary muscle: abs, the same as the Lying Leg-hip Raise
   • Equipment: bodyweight only, the same as the Lying Leg-hip Raise
   • Body position: lying on your back, the same as the Lying Leg-hip Raise
8. Play demonstration

   8. Half Sit-up

   95% match

   • Abs
   • Bodyweight
   • Beginner
   • Isolation

   How to perform this exercise

   1. Lie flat on your back with your knees bent and feet flat on the ground.
   2. Place your hands behind your head with your elbows pointing outwards.
   3. Engaging your abs, slowly lift your upper body off the ground, curling forward until your torso is at a 45-degree angle.
   4. Pause for a moment at the top, then slowly lower your upper body back down to the starting position.
   5. Repeat for the desired number of repetitions.

   Sets and reps: 3 sets of 8 to 12 reps, and add reps before you add load.

   Why this matches

   • Primary muscle: abs, the same as the Lying Leg-hip Raise
   • Equipment: bodyweight only, the same as the Lying Leg-hip Raise
   • Body position: lying on your back, the same as the Lying Leg-hip Raise
9. Play demonstration

   9. Quarter Sit-up

   95% match

   • Abs
   • Bodyweight
   • Beginner
   • Isolation

   How to perform this exercise

   1. Lie flat on your back with your knees bent and feet flat on the ground.
   2. Place your hands behind your head with your elbows pointing outwards.
   3. Engaging your abs, slowly lift your upper body off the ground, curling forward until your torso is at a 45-degree angle.
   4. Pause for a moment at the top, then slowly lower your upper body back down to the starting position.
   5. Repeat for the desired number of repetitions.

   Sets and reps: 3 sets of 8 to 12 reps, and add reps before you add load.

   Why this matches

   • Primary muscle: abs, the same as the Lying Leg-hip Raise
   • Equipment: bodyweight only, the same as the Lying Leg-hip Raise
   • Body position: lying on your back, the same as the Lying Leg-hip Raise
10. 

    10. Bent-knee Hip Raise

    94% match

    • Abs
    • Bodyweight
    • Beginner
    • Isolation

    How to perform this exercise

    1. Lay flat on the floor with your arms next to your sides.
    2. Now bend your knees at around a 75 degree angle and lift your feet off the floor by around 2 inches.
    3. Using your lower abs, bring your knees in towards you as you maintain the 75 degree angle bend in your legs. Continue this movement until you raise your hips off of the floor by rolling your pelvis backward. Breathe out as you perform this portion of the movement. Tip: At the end of the movement your knees will be over your chest.
    4. Squeeze your abs at the top of the movement for a second and then return to the starting position slowly as you breathe in. Tip: Maintain a controlled motion at all times.
    5. Repeat for the recommended amount of repetitions.

    Sets and reps: 3 sets of 8 to 12 reps, and add reps before you add load.

    Why this matches

    • Primary muscle: abs, the same as the Lying Leg-hip Raise
    • Equipment: bodyweight only, the same as the Lying Leg-hip Raise
    • Body position: lying on your back, the same as the Lying Leg-hip Raise