Arms Overhead Sit-Up
In SetGrip: Sit-Up (Arms Overhead)
- Primary muscleAbs
- EquipmentBodyweight
- DifficultyIntermediate
- TypeCore · Core flexion
- Secondary muscles
- Hip Flexors, Spine
- Body part
- Core
- Position
- Lying
- Laterality
- Bilateral (both sides together)
- Category
- Strength
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Keeping your arms stretched overhead through the whole rep lengthens your body's lever as far as it will go, making this the toughest unweighted sit-up here, ahead of the arms-crossed and hands-behind-head versions. If your arms drift forward to help you up, the rep just got easier; hold them by your ears to keep it honest.
How to do the Arms Overhead Sit-Up
- Lie flat on your back with your knees bent and feet flat on the ground.
- Extend your arms overhead, keeping them straight.
- Engaging your abs, slowly lift your upper body off the ground, curling forward until your torso is upright.
- Pause for a moment at the top, then slowly lower your upper body back down to the starting position.
- Repeat for the desired number of repetitions.
Tip: Reach the hands forward along the thighs and think of peeling the spine off the floor from the top down.
Muscles worked
Primary
Abs · Core
The abs curl the torso off the floor and then control it back down, and they do the most work in the first 30 degrees of the movement before the hip flexors take over.
Secondary
- Hip Flexors — The hip flexors pull you the rest of the way up once the abs have curled the ribs, and they will dominate if the feet are anchored and the range is rushed.
- Spine
Common mistakes
- Yanking the neck — hands behind the head should support only; keep the elbows wide or cross the arms on the chest.
- Jerking up flat-backed — the spine should curl up one segment at a time starting from the head, not lift as a rigid board.
- Dropping back down — the lowering half is where the abs work hardest, so take two or three seconds to come down.
- Anchoring the feet — this lets the hip flexors do everything; if you must anchor, keep the knees bent and focus on curling the torso.
Sets, reps and where it fits
| Goal | Sets × reps | Rest |
|---|---|---|
| Strength | 3 × 8–12 | 60 s |
| Endurance | 2–3 × 15–25 | 45 s |
Sit-ups go at the end of a session with the other core work. Superset them with a back extension to balance the front and back of the trunk.
Variations and alternatives
Similar exercises
Without bodyweight
Frequently asked questions
What muscles does the Arms Overhead Sit-Up work?
The Arms Overhead Sit-Up primarily works the abs. It also involves the hip flexors and spine, which assist the movement and stabilise the joints.
Is the Arms Overhead Sit-Up good for beginners?
It is rated intermediate, so it suits people who already train regularly. Beginners can still do the Arms Overhead Sit-Up with light load and a spotter or coach watching the first few sessions; if it feels awkward, pick an easier variation from the alternatives below first.
What can I do instead of the Arms Overhead Sit-Up?
If you cannot do the Arms Overhead Sit-Up, try the Weighted Decline Sit-Up, the Sit-Up (Three Quarter Range) or the Decline Sit-Up. Each of them trains the abs through a similar movement, so you can swap them in without changing the rest of the workout.
How many sets and reps should I do?
It depends on your goal. For the Arms Overhead Sit-Up, a sensible starting point is strength: 3 × 8–12 with 60 s rest; endurance: 2–3 × 15–25 with 45 s rest. Train it at the end of a session or pair it with a lower-body lift as active rest.
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