Leg Pull-In
A beginner compound strength exercise that works the abs, needing no equipment.
Starting position
End position
How to Do Leg Pull-In
- Lie on an exercise mat with your legs extended and your hands either palms facing down next to you or under your glutes. Tip: My preference is with the hands next to me. This will be your starting position.
- Bend your knees and pull your upper thighs into your midsection as you breathe out. Continue the motion until your knees are around chest level. Contract your abs as you execute this movement and hold for a second at the top. Tip: As you perform the motion, the lower legs (calves) should always remain parallel to the floor.
- Return to the starting position as you inhale.
- Repeat for the recommended amount of repetitions.
Muscles Worked
Alternatives to Leg Pull-In
10 movements that train the same primary muscle, closest substitutes first — same kind of training, then variations of the movement itself, then a similar difficulty.
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1
Flat Bench Leg Pull-In
A beginner compound strength exercise that works the abs, needing no equipment.
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2
Seated Flat Bench Leg Pull-In
A beginner compound strength exercise that works the abs, needing no equipment.
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3
Exercise Ball Pull-In
A beginner compound strength exercise that works the abs, using an exercise ball.
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4
Seated Leg Tucks
A beginner isolation strength exercise that works the abs, needing no equipment.
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5
Barbell Side Bend
A beginner isolation strength exercise that works the abs, using a barbell.
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6
Bosu Ball Cable Crunch With Side Bends
A beginner isolation strength exercise that works the abs, using a cable machine.
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7
Cable Crunch
A beginner isolation strength exercise that works the abs, using a cable machine.
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8
Cable Judo Flip
A beginner compound strength exercise that works the abs, using a cable machine.
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9
Cable Reverse Crunch
A beginner isolation strength exercise that works the abs, using a cable machine.
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10
Cable Russian Twists
A beginner compound strength exercise that works the abs, using a cable machine.
Frequently Asked Questions
What muscles do leg pull-in work?
Leg Pull-In primarily works the abs.
What equipment do I need for leg pull-in?
None. Leg Pull-In is a bodyweight movement you can do anywhere you have floor space.
Leg Pull-In: is it suitable for beginners?
Yes. Leg Pull-In is rated beginner. Movements you can learn in a session, with a low skill floor and a forgiving failure mode.
What can I do instead of leg pull-in?
Flat Bench Leg Pull-In, Seated Flat Bench Leg Pull-In, Exercise Ball Pull-In train the same primary muscles and are listed with 7 more alternatives above.
Can Fitnit count my leg pull-in reps automatically?
Not automatically yet. Fitnit's AI rep counting covers push-ups, squats, dumbbell curls, crunches and pull-ups today; leg pull-in can be logged manually in the app, and tracked movements are added over time.
Photographs and step-by-step instructions from free-exercise-db, a public-domain exercise dataset. Muscle mapping and alternatives by Fitnit.
Track Your Leg Pull-In with AI
Fitnit automatically tracks push-ups, crunches, squats, pull-ups, and curls with advanced body tracking technology — and you can manually input any other workout too. Start free — Pro is $8.99/month.