The core is the area in the center of the body between the chest and pelvis on the front, and shoulders and butt in the back. Keeping the core muscles strong is important for balance and stabilization with sports and daily functions. A leg raise...
Leg raises are an exercise used to strengthen the hips and abdominal muscles. The main muscles affected during leg raises are the lower abdominals, but the upper abdominals and intercostal muscles -- the muscles that are between the ribs and form...
Lying leg raises are not used to just strengthen your legs. Your stomach and back are also strengthened, depending on the position of your body. Leg raises do not require the use of any equipment, so you can perform the movements at home or at the...
Leg raises, which can be performed in various forms and positions, effectively work the quadriceps, as well as other muscle groups. Some leg raise exercises require resistance from machines, while others rely on simple body weight to work the...
Although leg raises are often billed as a core strengthening exercise, your hip flexors are actually the primary movers, not your abs. Although your abs do work to stabilize your lower back in an isometric contraction, the strong pull of your hip...
Of the 200-plus muscles in the human body, arguably the abs get the most attention. Both men and women spend diligent hours trying to make the midsection stand out and look lean and ripped. Vertical leg raises require the body to be in a vertical...
The contra leg raise is a difficult abdominal exercise suitable for the more experienced weightlifters. This exercise is often underutilized in training; however, the benefits it can have on performance are significant. The exercise requires a...
Leg raises work your abdominals and your hip flexors, the muscles that help pull your thighs up to your chest. These muscles work together in many activities, from jumping to ballet to martial arts, and can be trained at home. Strong abdominals...
Equipment used to perform hanging leg raises includes arm straps, pull-up bars and a hanging leg raise machine, or Captain's chair. Also referred to as the hanging knee raise, the hanging leg raise targets the abdominal muscles as well as the...
Reducing saddlebags and toning your outer thighs doesn’t necessarily require expensive equipment or even hours in the gym. Performing side leg raises works your abductor muscle group, which is located in your butt and outer thighs; it serves...
Leg raises are one of the most effective exercises that target your abs from the bottom. The exercise is variable enough to accommodate any fitness level, and most variations require minimal equipment. If you have pain during your leg raises, you...
Lateral leg raises, also referred to as hip abduction, fall under the category of calisthenics exercises. This means your body weight supplies the resistance. This single exercise utilizes multiple muscle groups and offers numerous benefits. They...
Hanging leg raises are a great exercise for the abdominal and lower pelvic muscles, lower back muscles and hip flexors. However, this exercise is not for beginners because it requires you to have a foundation of muscular conditioning in these...
The rectus abdominis is a large muscle that bridges the gap between the chest and pelvis. During ab exercises, you always recruit this muscle. However, by changing the angle of your body or moving a particular way, you will place more emphasis on...
Ordinary leg raises do an excellent job of targeting your abdominal muscles, particularly those of your lower torso. Performing leg raises on a stability ball is somewhat more challenging, but this simply means they can work your core even harder.
Hip adduction side leg raises strengthen the hip adductors or inner thigh. Developing strong hip adductors can help prevent injury such as a pulled groin muscle. Groin injuries are common among athletes in sports that require a quick change of...
Straight leg raises are beneficial for the strengthening of your upper leg muscles. Flexion increases your quadriceps strength while extension strengthens the hamstrings and gluts. Abduction and adduction have a direct impact on the muscles that...
Body-weight exercises require little in the way of equipment and allow you to get in a workout just about anywhere. With a chinning bar and somewhere to brace your hands, you can work many of the muscles of your body. While they do not replace a...
The hips and outer thighs are often problem areas for fat accumulation. Outer leg raises help tone these muscles, while aerobic exercise helps burn fat from around your body, including these areas. Perform this exercise, or any variation of this...
The abdominal region contains a long muscle known as the rectus abdominus. It runs from the sternum all the way down to the pelvic area. Leg raises are abdominal exercises that are performed with the weight of the body. A medicine ball is a...
Seated leg raises provide you with an easier alternative to advanced core strengthening exercises like hanging leg raises. A beginner with access to a flat bench can use the exercise to tighten up and strengthen the hip and abdominal areas. Round...
The TRX suspension training unit, manufactured by Fitness Anywhere in San Francisco, allows you to shift your stability base in a wide variety of traditional fitness exercises. The unit is a system of straps and handles that attach to an overhead...
Your oblique muscles are the abdominal muscles on the sides of your abdomen. They work to flex, bend and rotate your trunk. Include oblique exercises with leg raises in your workout plan to strengthen and tone your obliques as well as your other...
Used by physical therapists, athletic trainers and strength coaches, the Swiss stability ball provides a versatile piece of exercise equipment that improves balance, flexibility, strength, posture and coordination. One of the most common exercises...
The hanging leg raise is a highly effective abdominal exercise that targets the rectus abdominis. To perform this move, you must have a horizontal bar from which to hang — a chinup bar, free-standing exercise station or a beam in your home....
Leg exercises strengthen, tone and rehabilitate the muscles of your legs, lower back and abdomen. Knee and leg raises target different parts of your body and both can be performed in a variety of ways, depending on your level of mobility. For the...
Hearing a clicking sound or feeling a popping when performing leg raises can be alarming. In many cases, the clicking is nothing to worry about, but it can be a sign of impending inflammation or popping hip syndrome. If you experience clicking in...
The hanging leg raise works several muscles in your hips and midsection. To perform this exercise, hang from a fixed pullup bar with your arms and legs extended. With your legs together, contract your abdominal muscles and lift your knees as high...
Straight-leg raises can fulfill both diagnostic and muscle-toning functions. Orthopedists can use the exercise to diagnose certain spine problems; you can do straight-leg lifts to strengthen leg muscles. Those are both done lying down. Performing...
