Seated Barbell Twist

How to do the Seated Barbell Twist

1. Start out by sitting at the end of a flat bench with a barbell placed on top of your thighs. Your feet should be shoulder width apart from each other.
2. Grip the bar with your palms facing down and make sure your hands are wider than shoulder width apart from each other. Begin to lift the barbell up over your head until your arms are fully extended.
3. Now lower the barbell behind your head until it is resting along the base of your neck. This is the starting position.
4. While keeping your feet and head stationary, move your waist from side to side so that your oblique muscles feel the contraction. Only move from side to side as far as your waist will allow you to go. Stretching or moving too far can cause an injury to occur. Tip: Use a slow and controlled motion.
5. Remember to breathe out while twisting your body to the side and in when moving back to the starting position.
6. Repeat for the recommended amount of repetitions.

Muscles worked

Role	Muscles
Primary	abs
Equipment	barbell
Difficulty	beginner
Type	isolation

No barbell? Train the same muscles with these

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

Alternate Heel Touchers Bodyweight Crunch - Hands Overhead Bodyweight Crunch - Legs On Exercise Ball Bodyweight Crunches Bodyweight Decline Crunch Bodyweight Flat Bench Lying Leg Raise Bodyweight

Harder than the Seated Barbell Twist

Hanging Pike expert · Bodyweight Bent Press expert · Kettlebell Barbell Ab Rollout - On Knees expert · Barbell

Superset the Seated Barbell Twist with

Opposing lower back work — alternate sets without extra rest.

Stiff Leg Barbell Good Morning lower back Barbell Deadlift lower back Hyperextensions (Back Extensions) lower back Hyperextensions With No Hyperextension Bench lower back

Common questions

What muscles does the Seated Barbell Twist work?

The Seated Barbell Twist primarily works the abs. Ab Crunch Machine, Alternate Heel Touchers, and Barbell Side Bend train the same muscle, across 9 equipment types.

What equipment do you need for the Seated Barbell Twist?

A Barbell. Without a barbell, Alternate Heel Touchers, Crunch - Hands Overhead, and Crunch - Legs On Exercise Ball train the same muscle, and 45 of the catalogue's options for this muscle need no equipment.

Is the Seated Barbell Twist suitable for beginners?

Yes, the Seated Barbell Twist is rated beginner. Hanging Pike, Bent Press, and Barbell Ab Rollout - On Knees are the progressions from here.

Where should the Seated Barbell Twist go in a workout?

Late — the Seated Barbell Twist is isolation work, so it follows your compounds. Supersetting it with Stiff Leg Barbell Good Morning and Barbell Deadlift cuts session time without extra rest.

Similar exercises

Ab Crunch Machine Machine Alternate Heel Touchers Bodyweight Barbell Side Bend Barbell Bosu Ball Cable Crunch With Side Bends Cable Machine Cable Crunch Cable Machine Cable Reverse Crunch Cable Machine