How to Do Inclined Sit Ups

Co-authored by Tiffany Stafford, CPT and Sophia Bell

Last Updated: December 24, 2023

If you’re looking to build core strength, sit ups can be a useful exercise as they increase strength and flexibility in your abdominal muscles. Doing sit ups on an incline bench are more effective than regular sit ups, as there is a wider range of motion. This exercise strengthens your rectus abdominis, or your "six-pack muscle." You can even add weights or adjust the incline for an additional challenge.

Part 1

Part 1 of 3:

Getting in the Starting Position

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This exercise will work best if you have a support bar, or foot brace, under which to hook your feet as well.
You should start with an angle between 30 and 45 degrees. The higher the angle, the harder the sit ups will be.^{[1]
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Your feet should be on the inclined (higher) side of the bench and your head should be at the declined (lower) side of the bench. Hook your legs under the foot brace or support bar.
Cup your hands over your ears or hold the tips of your ears with your fingertips. Avoid placing your hands behind your neck, as this can lead to injury when the head and neck are pushed too far forward.^{[2]
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Part 2

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Performing the Exercise

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Make sure your abs stay tightened and your back is straight. You should raise up until your upper body is completely vertical.^{[3]
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You should slowly lower your body until the back of your shoulders touch the bench. Keep your back straight and your abs tight.^{[4]
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Try to do 10 repetitions of this exercise per set. Repeat until you've completed 3 sets.^{[5]
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Part 3

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Challenging Yourself

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1
Increase the incline. Increasing the incline makes the exercise more challenging. If you’ve got the hang of this exercise and want to challenge yourself, increase the incline by 5-10 degrees.^{[6]
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- The bench will have a knob which allows you to lift and position the high end of the bench even higher.
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Add weights.^{[7]
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Expert Source

Tiffany Stafford, CPT
Life Coach, Personal Trainer, & Holistic Nutritionist

Expert Interview. 26 March 2020.} For a more challenging sit up, you can hold a weight against your chest, with your arms crossed over top of it. Be careful not to drop the weight and hurt yourself.^{[8]
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- Use a weight plate (used on bench press bars) rather than free weights.
If you start out doing this exercise once or twice per week, increase that to three to four times per week. The more sit ups you do, the better results you will see.^{[9]
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Expert Q&A

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Question

Is doing sit ups good for you?

Michele Dolan
Certified Fitness Trainer
Michele Dolan is a Fitness Trainer based in Sidney, British Columbia. She has been a personal trainer and fitness instructor since 2002, and was certified as a Personal Trainer by the British Columbia Recreation and Parks Association (BCRPA). Michele is also a Registered Clinical Counselor, and uses her 20+ years of fitness coaching experience to help clients understand their mind-body connection. She is a Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC) and Certified Clinical Counsellor (CCC), certified by the British Columbia Association of Clinical Counsellors and the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association. In her work, Michele uses the tools of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectic Behavior Therapy and Cognitive Processing Therapy for Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome. She practices and teaches mindfulness and acceptance in all of her coaching work. She holds a Master’s Degree in Counselling Psychology.

Michele Dolan

Certified Fitness Trainer

Expert Answer

Sit ups compress the disks of the lumbar spine and are considered by many experts to be more harmful than helpful.

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Question

What is a decline sit up?

Michele Dolan
Certified Fitness Trainer
Michele Dolan is a Fitness Trainer based in Sidney, British Columbia. She has been a personal trainer and fitness instructor since 2002, and was certified as a Personal Trainer by the British Columbia Recreation and Parks Association (BCRPA). Michele is also a Registered Clinical Counselor, and uses her 20+ years of fitness coaching experience to help clients understand their mind-body connection. She is a Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC) and Certified Clinical Counsellor (CCC), certified by the British Columbia Association of Clinical Counsellors and the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association. In her work, Michele uses the tools of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectic Behavior Therapy and Cognitive Processing Therapy for Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome. She practices and teaches mindfulness and acceptance in all of her coaching work. She holds a Master’s Degree in Counselling Psychology.

Michele Dolan

Certified Fitness Trainer

Expert Answer

Decline sit ups are done from a bench. Your legs are hooked over a roller that is higher than your torso, and you perform the standard sit up motion from that position.

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Question

How do you do a decline crunch?

Michele Dolan
Certified Fitness Trainer
Michele Dolan is a Fitness Trainer based in Sidney, British Columbia. She has been a personal trainer and fitness instructor since 2002, and was certified as a Personal Trainer by the British Columbia Recreation and Parks Association (BCRPA). Michele is also a Registered Clinical Counselor, and uses her 20+ years of fitness coaching experience to help clients understand their mind-body connection. She is a Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC) and Certified Clinical Counsellor (CCC), certified by the British Columbia Association of Clinical Counsellors and the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association. In her work, Michele uses the tools of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectic Behavior Therapy and Cognitive Processing Therapy for Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome. She practices and teaches mindfulness and acceptance in all of her coaching work. She holds a Master’s Degree in Counselling Psychology.

Michele Dolan

Certified Fitness Trainer

Expert Answer

Hook your feet under the roller, and lean back on the bench so you are tilted with your head lower than your legs. Then try to sit up from that position.

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A well-rounded abdominal workout includes additional exercises like the plank, leg lifts, and the bicycle exercise.

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Warnings

Limit the number of sets and repetitions you perform of this exercise, as this movement pattern is attributed to lower back injuries.

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Potential injuries to your back and neck may be incurred if this exercise is performed incorrectly.

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Abdominal exercises should always be matched with exercises for the spinal erector muscles in the back, so do moves like the Superman in conjunction with inclined sit ups.

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