Exercise guide · Intermediate · Compound

Lever Kneeling Twist: How to Do It & Muscles Worked

The lever kneeling twist is an abdominal exercise performed on a leverage machine, targeting the abs with secondary emphasis on the obliques and lower back. The movement involves twisting the torso from side to side while kneeling, engaging the core muscles.

Primary muscles
Abs
Secondary muscles
Obliques
Equipment
Leverage Machine
Level · type
Intermediate · Compound
Demonstration of the lever kneeling twist
Front view: muscles worked by the lever kneeling twist. Primary: abs. Secondary: obliques.
Back view: muscles worked by the lever kneeling twist. Primary: abs. Secondary: obliques.
Primary Secondary

How to do the lever kneeling twist

  1. Step 1: Adjust the seat height and position yourself on the machine with your knees resting on the pads and your upper body facing forward.
  2. Step 2: Grasp the handles or the sides of the machine for stability.
  3. Step 3: Keeping your core engaged, twist your torso to one side as far as comfortably possible.
  4. Step 4: Pause for a moment, then slowly return to the starting position.
  5. Step 5: Repeat the twist to the opposite side.
  6. Step 6: Continue alternating sides for the desired number of repetitions.

Sets, reps and programming

Suggested sets, reps and rest for the lever kneeling twist 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.

Lever Kneeling Twist 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.