Lie on your back and lift your torso while bringing one elbow toward the opposite knee, alternating sides to produce trunk flexion and rotation. The movement primarily works the abdominal muscles.
How to do the Elbow to Knee#
- Lie on your back with knees bent and feet flat, placing your hands lightly behind your head.
- Engage your core and lift your head, neck, and shoulders a few inches off the floor.
- Drive one elbow toward the opposite knee while extending the other leg straight.
- Return to center in a controlled way and immediately bring the opposite elbow toward the other knee.
- Continue alternating sides for the prescribed number of repetitions.
Muscles worked#
- Primary: Abs (Rectus Abdominis), Obliques (External & Internal Obliques)
- Secondary: Hip flexors (Iliopsoas (Hip Flexors))
Common mistakes#
- Pulling on the neck with your hands.
- Using momentum instead of controlled abdominal contraction.
- Allowing the lower back to arch away from the floor.
- Kicking the extended leg quickly rather than extending it smoothly.
- Rotating the shoulders only slightly and not engaging the trunk.
