Form cues
- Keep legs straight
- Brace and stop the swing
- Lift with control
- Shoulders down
Exercise
Vertical Leg Raise (on parallel bars)
Waist, body weight
A bodyweight core exercise on parallel bars where you raise straight legs in front of you under control.
Target: abs. Also works: hip flexors.
Steps
- Support yourself on the parallel bars with straight arms and your legs hanging together.
- Pull your shoulders down and brace your midsection to stop your body from swinging.
- Keep your knees straight and lift your legs forward in front of you.
- Raise your legs until they reach hip height or slightly higher.
- Pause briefly at the top without leaning back.
- Lower your legs with control to the start and reset before the next repetition.
Common mistakes
- Swinging the torso to start each rep
- Bending the knees as the legs rise
- Shrugging the shoulders up toward the ears
- Dropping the legs quickly on the way down
Breathing
Exhale as you lift your legs, then inhale as you lower them back to the start.
In the app, search for Vertical Leg Raise (on parallel bars) and add it to a workout.