Exercise guide · Intermediate · Compound

Lever Seated Leg Raise Crunch: How to Do It & Muscles Worked

The lever seated leg raise crunch is an abdominal exercise performed on a leverage machine. It targets the abs and also works the hip flexors. The movement involves raising the legs and curling the torso forward simultaneously, providing a challenging core workout.

Primary muscles
Abs
Secondary muscles
Quads
Equipment
Leverage Machine
Level · type
Intermediate · Compound
Demonstration of the lever seated leg raise crunch
Front view: muscles worked by the lever seated leg raise crunch. Primary: abs. Secondary: quads.
Back view: muscles worked by the lever seated leg raise crunch. Primary: abs. Secondary: quads.
Primary Secondary

How to do the lever seated leg raise crunch

  1. Step 1: Sit on the leverage machine with your back against the backrest and your feet on the footrests.
  2. Step 2: Grasp the handles or sidebars for stability.
  3. Step 3: Engage your abs and slowly raise your legs up towards your chest, curling your torso forward at the same time.
  4. Step 4: Pause for a moment at the top, then slowly lower your legs and torso back 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 lever seated leg raise crunch 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.

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