Exercise guide · Advanced · Compound

Barbell Press Sit-Up: How to Do It & Muscles Worked

The barbell press sit-up is an advanced abdominal exercise that combines a traditional sit-up with a barbell press, engaging the abs, shoulders, and chest. It requires significant core strength, coordination, and balance to safely press the barbell while performing the sit-up motion.

Primary muscles
Abs
Secondary muscles
Chest , Shoulders
Equipment
Barbell
Level · type
Advanced · Compound
Demonstration of the barbell press sit-up
Front view: muscles worked by the barbell press sit-up. Primary: abs. Secondary: chest and shoulders.
Back view: muscles worked by the barbell press sit-up. Primary: abs. Secondary: chest and shoulders.
Primary Secondary

How to do the barbell press sit-up

  1. Step 1: Lie flat on your back on a mat with your knees bent and feet flat on the ground.
  2. Step 2: Hold the barbell with an overhand grip, resting it on your chest.
  3. Step 3: Engaging your abs, slowly lift your upper body off the ground, curling forward until your torso is at a 45-degree angle.
  4. Step 4: Pause for a moment at the top, then slowly lower your upper body back down to the starting position.
  5. Step 5: Repeat for the desired number of repetitions.

Sets, reps and programming

Suggested sets, reps and rest for the barbell press sit-up by training goal
Goal Sets Reps Rest Effort
Strength 3–5 3–6 3–5 min 1–3 reps in reserve
Muscle growth 3–4 6–12 2–3 min 1–2 reps in reserve
Muscular endurance 2–3 12–20 1–2 min 1–3 reps in reserve

Ranges follow the ACSM position stand on progression in resistance training. Muscle grows across a wide range of loads when sets end close to failure (Schoenfeld et al., 2017), longer rests between heavy sets support strength and size (Schoenfeld et al., 2016), and stopping a rep or two short of failure works about as well as training to failure (Grgic et al., 2022). Estimate your working weights with the strength calculators.

Barbell Press Sit-Up alternatives

More exercises that train the abs as their main target:

More abs exercises

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Sources

  1. American College of Sports Medicine. Progression models in resistance training for healthy adults. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2009;41(3):687-708.
  2. Schoenfeld BJ, Grgic J, Ogborn D, Krieger JW. Strength and hypertrophy adaptations between low- vs. high-load resistance training. J Strength Cond Res. 2017;31(12):3508-3523.
  3. Schoenfeld BJ, Pope ZK, Benik FM, et al. Longer interset rest periods enhance muscle strength and hypertrophy in resistance-trained men. J Strength Cond Res. 2016;30(7):1805-1812.
  4. Grgic J, Schoenfeld BJ, Orazem J, Sabol F. Effects of resistance training performed to repetition failure or non-failure on muscular strength and hypertrophy: a systematic review and meta-analysis. J Sport Health Sci. 2022;11(2):202-211.

Step-by-step instructions and demonstration media are from the ExerciseDB exercise dataset.

This guide is general fitness information, not medical advice. Stop if an exercise causes pain and speak to a doctor or physiotherapist about injuries or health conditions before starting a new programme.