Are you struggling to engage your lower abs during your workouts? Are traditional leg raises not cutting it for you? You’re not alone. Lying leg raises with bands can be a challenging move that many individuals find difficult to execute properly. The common culprit is weak hip flexors, which often fail to keep the lower back from arching and taking over the movement. The good news is that this issue can be fixed with proper form and strengthening exercises. In this post, I’ll show you how to perform lying leg raises with bands correctly and provide some tips to help you engage your lower abs effectively.
Lying Leg Raises With Bands Summary
- Primary Muscles: Iliopsoas
- Secondary Muscles: Adductor Brevis, Adductor Longus, Pectineus, Sartorius, Tensor Fasciae Latae,
- Equipment: Resistance Band and Ankle Straps
- Mechanics Type: Compound
- Force: Pull
- Utility: Basic

Lying Leg Raises With Bands Instructions
- Begin by setting up a resistance band at a low anchor point and two ankle straps.
- Lye down so that your legs are pointing toward the anchor point legs with the band tight.
- Lift your legs straight up to vertical.
- Then lower your legs back down.
- Repeat your legs raises for a set of 8-12 reps.
Video Tutorial
Lying Leg Raises With Bands Muscles
Target (Agonist)
Synergists
Dynamic Stabilizers
- Rectus Femoris
Stabilizers
Antagonist Stabilizers
- None

Benefits of Lying Leg Raises With Bands
Lying Leg Raises With Bands can provide a great workout for the iliopsoas, a muscle located deep in the hip area. This exercise works the iliopsoas by strengthening the hip flexors and engaging the core. It can help to improve posture, reduce back pain, and increase stability throughout the lower body. Additionally, it can increase mobility and flexibility in the hip area, allowing for better movement patterns when performing other exercises. Furthermore, this exercise can help to improve overall athletic performance by strengthening the muscles around the hip area, which can increase power and speed.
Tips for Performing Lying Leg Raises With Bands
Lying leg raises with bands are a great way to add intensity to your workouts and tone your lower body. If you’re looking to get fit, these tips can help you maximize the benefits of this exercise. Follow these tips and you’ll be sure to see results!
- To increase the resistance making the bands tighter at the start by moving away from the anchor point.
- Focus on pulling with your abs to increase core activation.
- Select a lower resistance band and ensure it is tight throughout the exercise if the exercise is to challenging.
Benefits and Tips Video
Frequent Mistakes To Avoid
It’s important to make sure you are performing the lying leg raise with bands correctly to get the best results and prevent injury. To help with this, here is a list of common mistakes to avoid when doing lying leg raises with bands. These mistakes can lead to improper form, reduced effectiveness of the exercise, and even injury. So it’s important to make sure you are avoiding them.
- You’ll Do Better To Not Forget About Recovery Days. Over-training can certainly help make you less strong in lieu of stronger.
- Avoid Using To Little or Too Much Tension. Not enough, and you will not be sufficiently employing your agonist (target) muscle. Too much, and you will likely need to cheat. Ensure that you can accomplish between 8-12 reps with proper form.
- Stop Trying To By Pass Your Warm-Up. getting the blood flowing to your Muscle tissue is the best way to avoid personal injury.
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Variations and Complementary Exercises
If you’re looking for a different way to challenge the same muscle group, try some of these variations, complementary, or alternative exercises. They may not have the same intensity, but you can still get a good workout.
Knee Up With Bands

Knee Up With Bands is an excellent exercise to complement or substitute Lying Leg Raises With Bands. Knee Up With Bands is a bodyweight exercise that works the glutes, hamstrings, and core muscles. It is a great way to build strength, stability, and balance in the lower body while also improving hip mobility. This exercise can be done without equipment or with resistance bands for added difficulty. Knee Up With Bands is a great alternative to Lying Leg Raises With Bands if you’re looking for a similar exercise with less strain on the back and hips.
Lever Lying Leg Raise Bent Knee (Machine)

The Lever Lying Leg Raise Bent Knee (Machine) is a great complementary or alternative exercise for Lying Leg Raises With Bands. This machine helps to target the same muscles used in the banded version, but with more control and stability as the user is able to adjust the resistance and range of motion. This exercise can be used to increase the intensity of the traditional Lying Leg Raises With Bands, as well as help to isolate certain muscles in order to strengthen them. The Lever Lying Leg Raise Bent Knee (Machine) is a great exercise to add to any routine for those looking for an extra challenge.
Leg Lift Knee Raise

Leg Lift Knee Raise is a great alternative or complementary exercise to Lying Leg Raises With Bands. It is an excellent exercise for strengthening the core and lower body muscles. To perform this exercise, you will start in a standing position and then lift one knee up towards your chest. This can be done with or without weights. You can also add a band around your ankles to add resistance. The added resistance will help you to build strength and stability in your core and lower body muscles. This exercise is a great way to work on your coordination and balance, while also providing a good workout for the core and lower body muscles.
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Knee Hug Crunch

The Knee Hug Crunch is a great complementary or alternative exercise for Lying Leg Raises With Bands. The Knee Hug Crunch is a simple exercise that involves lying on your back and hugging your knees to your chest. This exercise works the abdominal muscles and strengthens the core, which helps with balance and stability. The Knee Hug Crunch can also help to increase flexibility in the lower back and hips, which is an important component of the Lying Leg Raises With Bands exercise. This exercise can be done by anyone, regardless of their fitness level, making it a great option for those looking to supplement their leg raises with an additional abdominal exercise.
Jack Knife Sit Up

The Jack Knife Sit Up is a great alternative or complementary exercise to the Lying Leg Raises With Bands. This exercise is performed with the legs extended out straight and the arms extended back behind the head. The goal is to sit up and touch the toes while keeping the back straight. This exercise is great for strengthening the core muscles and working the lower abdominal muscles. It also helps to improve balance and stability, making it a great addition to any workout routine.
Incline Leg Hip Raise

The incline leg hip raise is a great complementary exercise to the lying leg raises with bands. It is an excellent alternative if you don’t have access to bands, as it can be done with just your bodyweight. The incline leg hip raise targets the same muscles as the lying leg raise with bands, but it also engages the glutes and hamstrings more than the lying leg raise. By doing this exercise, you will be able to build strength in your lower body and core, while still targeting the same muscles as the lying leg raise with bands.
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Opposing Complementary Exercises
In addition to the Lying Leg Raises With Bands, there are a few other exercises that will help you target opposing muscle groups and further strengthen your core. These exercises are designed to help you get the most out of your Lying Leg Raises With Bands routine and to help you build strength in your core and overall body. Try these exercises for a more comprehensive workout:
Barbell Stiff Leg Good Morning

The Barbell Stiff Leg Good Morning is a great exercise to complement the Lying Leg Raises With Bands. This exercise focuses on the posterior chain and glutes, which is the opposing muscle group of the Lying Leg Raises With Bands. The Barbell Stiff Leg Good Morning involves bending at the hips while keeping the back straight and legs almost straight, while the Lying Leg Raises With Bands focuses on the anterior chain and hip flexors. This combination of exercises helps create a balanced and strong lower body.
Good Mornings With Bands

Good Mornings With Bands are an excellent complementary exercise to Lying Leg Raises With Bands. By targeting the opposing muscle group, Good Mornings With Bands help to build strength and stability throughout the entire body. This exercise works the glutes, hamstrings, and lower back muscles while also activating the core and stabilizing muscles. Good Mornings With Bands create a strong foundation for Lying Leg Raises With Bands, allowing you to perform the exercise with more power and control. Additionally, this exercise can help to reduce the risk of injury while still providing a great workout.
Smith Machine Good Morning Off Pins

The Smith Machine Good Morning Off Pins is a great way to complement the exercise Lying Leg Raises With Bands, as it works the opposing muscle group. The exercise helps to strengthen the back and hamstrings while also improving posture. The Good Morning Off Pins allows you to control the weight and angle of the movement, which is perfect for targeting the back and hamstrings while keeping your body in proper alignment. Additionally, the Smith Machine offers a stable base that prevents any unwanted wobbling or instability during the exercise, making it easier to maintain proper form. Overall, the Smith Machine Good Morning Off Pins is an effective way to target the opposing muscle group while also increasing stability and balance for Lying Leg Raises With Bands.
Get Your Legs Strong and Toned with Lying Leg Raises and Bands!
Lying leg raises with bands are a great way to strengthen and tone your legs. By using resistance bands, you increase the challenge of the exercise and work your muscles even harder. These exercises are great for targeting your glutes, quads, and hamstrings, and can help to improve your overall leg strength. With consistent practice, you’ll see results in no time and be on your way to achieving your fitness goals. Incorporate lying leg raises with bands into your workout routine and enjoy stronger, more toned legs.
References: Wikipedia | ExRx.net | PubMed.gov | Comprehensive List of Legs Resistance Band Exercises