Hanging leg raises for the obliques

Once again, you find yourself in the starting position on a pull-up bar, with your legs pointing downward. However, in one of the subsequent variations, you transition immediately into a more tensed body posture. This aspect, though, will be explained in greater detail later. Your back should not arch, and your abdominal muscles are engaged. Ensure that your entire body remains under tension, and your legs do not dangle loosely, but rather, you build a certain level of tension in the leg muscles.

Movement execution

This specific variation of hanging leg raises is recognized as the "Windshield Wiper." In this exercise, you move your legs from one side to the other while extending them fully upward, and your buttocks are positioned at approximately head height. Your legs now rotate from right to left, forming a 45-degree angle toward the respective corner at the top. You grip the bar from above, and your lower and upper arms create a right angle, maintaining this position throughout the entire exercise.

Furthermore

Simultaneously, it is possible to work the side abdominal muscles while performing hanging leg raises, even when your legs are bent. You draw your knees towards your chest, positioning them approximately at the level of your chest. Next, you rotate your hips in one direction, causing both knees, for example, to point to the right. Then, you return to the starting position in the middle. Subsequently, you bring your knees in again and rotate in the opposite direction. An angle of 45 degrees seems advisable for this rotational movement.

Stressed muscles and common mistakes

To gain deeper insights into the muscles engaged and common mistakes when performing the exercise "Hanging Leg Raises" to strengthen the side abdominal muscles, I direct you to the page dedicated to "Hanging Leg Raises" on the website.

Alternative variations to hanging leg raises for the lateral abdominal muscles

To add variety to your training, you can also explore similar exercises or alternative variations of hanging leg raises for the side abdominal muscles.