Skip to content
Exercise details
- Target muscle: Internal and External Obliques
- Synergists: Rectus Abdominis, Iliopsoas, Tensor Fasciae Latae, Sartorius
- Mechanics: Isolation
- Force: Pull
Starting position
- Lie on your right side with your knees bent and your right arm extended in front of you for support.
- Allow your left shoulder to drop backward so that your torso is twisted. Your head and shoulders should be facing upward and your knees should be pointing sideways.
- Place your left hand behind your head.
Execution
- Exhale as you raise your torso and legs off the floor, twist your torso, and touch your left elbow to your left knee.
- Inhale as you reverse the movement and return to the starting position, but don’t allow your legs to touch the floor.
- Repeat for the prescribed number of repetitions.
- Repeat the exercise on your left side.
Comments and tips
- Keep the movement slow and under control.
- Do not pull on your head. Keep your neck neutral.
- Keep your legs off the floor.
- To make the exercise more difficult, extend your legs.
- The bent-knee oblique v-up can be difficult for beginners, who should start with more basic core exercises, such as the twisting crunch.
- The bent-knee oblique v-up is also known as the side sit-up, oblique sit-up, and side jackknife (although these names can also sometimes be used for other, similar exercises).
