Press Sit-Up

How to do the Press Sit-Up

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. Repeat for the recommended amount of repetitions.

Muscles worked

Role	Muscles
Primary	abs
Secondary	chest, shoulders, triceps
Equipment	barbell
Difficulty	expert
Type	compound

No barbell? Train the same muscles with these

Ordered by how likely you are to own the 6 options.

Spider Crawl Bodyweight 3/4 Sit-Up Bodyweight Air Bike Bodyweight Bent-Knee Hip Raise Bodyweight Bottoms Up Bodyweight Butt-Ups Bodyweight

Easier than the Press Sit-Up

Same movement pattern, lower entry difficulty — work up from here.

Advanced Kettlebell Windmill intermediate · Kettlebell

Superset the Press Sit-Up with

Opposing lower back work — alternate sets without extra rest.

Barbell Deadlift lower back Stiff Leg Barbell Good Morning lower back Hyperextensions With No Hyperextension Bench lower back Weighted Ball Hyperextension lower back

Common questions

What muscles does the Press Sit-Up work?

The Press Sit-Up primarily works the abs, with the chest, shoulders, and triceps as secondary movers. Otis-Up, Pallof Press With Rotation, and Spider Crawl train the same muscle, across 9 equipment types.

What equipment do you need for the Press Sit-Up?

A Barbell. Without a barbell, Spider Crawl, 3/4 Sit-Up, and Air Bike train the same muscle, and 45 of the catalogue's options for this muscle need no equipment.

Is the Press Sit-Up suitable for beginners?

It is rated expert. Start with Advanced Kettlebell Windmill and work up.

Where should the Press Sit-Up go in a workout?

Early — the Press Sit-Up is compound, working 4 muscle groups, so run it first or second while you are fresh, then superset Barbell Deadlift and Stiff Leg Barbell Good Morning later.

Similar exercises

Otis-Up Other Equipment Pallof Press With Rotation Cable Machine Spider Crawl Bodyweight Advanced Kettlebell Windmill Kettlebell Bent Press Kettlebell Kettlebell Windmill Kettlebell