Captain's Chair Leg Raise: how to do it and muscles worked

The captain's chair leg raise mainly works your abs and hip flexors. You need a gym machine.

Muscles worked

How to do the captain's chair leg raise

  1. 1

    Stand on the captain's chair with your forearms on the pads, your back pressed to the backrest and your legs hanging down.

  2. 2

    Raise your knees or straight legs up toward your chest until your hips curl slightly, tightening your abs.

  3. 3

    Lower your legs slowly without swinging. Breathe out as you raise and in as you lower.

Form tip: Keep your back pressed to the pad and curl your pelvis up rather than simply swinging your legs.

Common questions

Which muscles does the captain's chair leg raise work?
The captain's chair leg raise mainly works your abs and hip flexors.
What equipment do I need for the captain's chair leg raise?
You need a gym machine.
How many sets and reps should I do?
A common starting point is 2 to 4 sets of 8 to 12 controlled reps, with a weight that leaves a couple of reps in reserve. Adjust it to your goal and experience, and stop if something hurts.
How do I track the captain's chair leg raise in SweatByte?
Add it to a routine or a workout. Log the reps for each set. SweatByte shows your last session's numbers on every set, so you know what to beat.

More abs exercises

General information, not medical advice. Learn the movement with light weight first, and see a doctor or physiotherapist if you have an injury or pain. More guides in Learn.

Captain's Chair Leg Raise: how to do it and muscles worked · SweatByte