Scissor Kick
A beginner isolation mobility exercise that works the abs, needing no equipment.
Starting position
End position
How to Do Scissor Kick
- To begin, lie down with your back pressed against the floor or on an exercise mat (optional). Your arms should be fully extended to the sides with your palms facing down. Note: The arms should be stationary the entire time.
- With a slight bend at the knees, lift your legs up so that your heels are about 6 inches off the ground. This is the starting position.
- Now lift your left leg up to about a 45 degree angle while your right leg is lowered until the heel is about 2-3 inches from the ground.
- Switch movements by raising your right leg up and lowering your left leg. Remember to breathe while performing this exercise.
- Repeat for the recommended amount of repetitions.
Muscles Worked
Alternatives to Scissor Kick
7 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
Overhead Stretch
A beginner compound mobility exercise that works the abs.
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2
Seated Overhead Stretch
A beginner isolation mobility exercise that works the abs.
-
3
Standing Lateral Stretch
A beginner mobility exercise that works the abs.
-
4
Torso Rotation
A beginner mobility exercise that works the abs, using an exercise ball.
-
5
Lower Back Curl
A beginner mobility exercise that works the abs, needing no equipment.
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6
Stomach Vacuum
A beginner isolation mobility exercise that works the abs, needing no equipment.
-
7
Toe Touchers
A beginner isolation mobility exercise that works the abs, needing no equipment.
Frequently Asked Questions
What muscles do scissor kick work?
Scissor Kick primarily works the abs.
What equipment do I need for scissor kick?
None. Scissor Kick is a bodyweight movement you can do anywhere you have floor space.
Scissor Kick: is it suitable for beginners?
Yes. Scissor Kick 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 scissor kick?
Overhead Stretch, Seated Overhead Stretch, Standing Lateral Stretch train the same primary muscles and are listed with 4 more alternatives above.
How do I log scissor kick in Fitnit?
As time held rather than reps. Fitnit records the seconds and credits them to the abs on your body map, so you can see which muscles you train hard and never stretch.
Photographs and step-by-step instructions from free-exercise-db, a public-domain exercise dataset. Muscle mapping and alternatives by Fitnit.
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