Ab and Core exercises: which work your ab most?

Your core includes the rectus abdominis, the obliques and deeper stabilisers. Some exercises train it by bending or twisting the spine, others by resisting movement, and heavy compound lifts train it as a brace.

Exercises where the ab is a primary mover

Ranked by how much of the work the ab does in each exercise.

• Crunch
• Hanging Leg Raise
• Plankalso lower back (erector spinae)
• Russian Twist
• Sit-Up
• Mountain Climber
• Burpeealso quads, chest
• Farmer's Walkalso forearms, traps
• Front Squatalso quads, glutes

Exercises that also work the ab and core

The ab and core assists in these, but is not the main target.

• Thrusteralso quads, glutes, front delts
• Kettlebell Swingalso glutes, hamstrings, lower back (erector spinae)
• Push-Upalso chest, triceps, front delts
• Back Squatalso quads, glutes, adductors
• Deadliftalso glutes, hamstrings, lower back (erector spinae)
• Goblet Squatalso quads, glutes, adductors
• Overhead Pressalso front delts, side delts, triceps
• Bulgarian Split Squatalso quads, glutes, adductors
• Good Morningalso hamstrings, glutes, lower back (erector spinae)
• Hip Thrustalso glutes, hamstrings, adductors
• Sumo Deadliftalso glutes, quads, adductors, hamstrings
• Arnold Pressalso front delts, side delts, triceps
• Chin-Upalso lats, biceps, rhomboids
• Dipalso chest, triceps, front delts
• Dumbbell Pulloveralso chest, lats
• Glute Bridgealso glutes, hamstrings
• Lungealso quads, glutes, hamstrings
• Pull-Upalso lats, biceps, rhomboids
• Step-Upalso quads, glutes
• Bench Pressalso chest, front delts, triceps
• Decline Bench Pressalso chest, triceps
• Incline Bench Pressalso chest, front delts, triceps

Other muscle groups

This guide is general fitness information, not medical advice. Muscle involvement varies with form, grip and individual anatomy.