Press Sit-Up
An advanced compound strength exercise that works the abs, using a barbell.
Starting position
End position
How to Do Press Sit-Up
- To begin, lie down on a bench with a barbell resting on your chest. Position your legs so they are secure on the extension of the abdominal bench. This is the starting position.
- While inhaling, tighten your abdominals and glutes. Simultaneously curl your torso as you do when performing a sit-up and press the barbell to an overhead position while exhaling. Tip: Use your arms to push the barbell out as you perform this exercise while still focusing on the abdominal muscles.
- Lower your upper body back down to the starting position while bringing the barbell back down to your torso. Remember to breathe in while lowering the body.
- Repeat for the recommended amount of repetitions.
Muscles Worked
Alternatives to Press Sit-Up
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
Bent Press
An advanced compound strength exercise that works the abs, using a kettlebell.
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2
Pallof Press
A beginner isolation strength exercise that works the abs, using a cable machine.
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3
Pallof Press With Rotation
A beginner compound strength exercise that works the abs, using a cable machine.
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4
Frog Sit-Ups
An intermediate isolation strength exercise that works the abs, needing no equipment.
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5
Jackknife Sit-Up
A beginner compound strength exercise that works the abs, needing no equipment.
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6
Janda Sit-Up
A beginner isolation strength exercise that works the abs, needing no equipment.
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7
Sit-Up
A beginner isolation strength exercise that works the abs, needing no equipment.
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8
Weighted Sit-Ups - With Bands
An intermediate isolation strength exercise that works the abs.
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9
Hanging Leg Raise
An advanced isolation strength exercise that works the abs, needing no equipment.
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10
Hanging Pike
An advanced compound strength exercise that works the abs, needing no equipment.
Frequently Asked Questions
What muscles do press sit-up work?
Press Sit-Up primarily works the abs. The chest, shoulders and triceps assist as secondary muscles.
What equipment do I need for press sit-up?
Press Sit-Up uses barbell.
Press Sit-Up: is it suitable for beginners?
Press Sit-Up is rated advanced. High skill or high load. Worth earning rather than starting with.
What can I do instead of press sit-up?
Bent Press, Pallof Press, Pallof Press With Rotation train the same primary muscles and are listed with 7 more alternatives above.
Can Fitnit count my press sit-up reps automatically?
Not automatically yet. Fitnit's AI rep counting covers push-ups, squats, dumbbell curls, crunches and pull-ups today; press sit-up 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 Press Sit-Up 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.