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Toe Touches

A leg-raise variation that combines a straight-leg lift with an upper-body reach toward the toes.

Setup

Lie on your back, legs extended straight up toward the ceiling. Arms extended overhead on the floor.

Movement

Crunch up, reaching your hands toward your toes. Lift your shoulders off the floor while keeping your legs relatively stationary and vertical. Reach as far as your current flexibility and strength allow. Touching your toes isn't required immediately — work toward it over time.

Return

Lower with control. Return your shoulders to the floor smoothly rather than dropping quickly.

Common Mistake to Avoid

Using momentum to fling the upper body up. A controlled crunch engages the abs more effectively than a fast, jerky reach.

Equipment None (bodyweight)
Primary Muscles Abs (rectus abdominis)
Secondary Muscles Hip flexors

Why it matters

By combining a leg raise with a simultaneous upper-body crunch reaching toward the toes, this exercise engages both the upper and lower abs together through a longer range of motion than either a standalone crunch or leg raise.

How to do it

  1. Lie on your back, legs extended straight up toward the ceiling. Arms extended overhead on the floor.
  2. Crunch up, reaching your hands toward your toes. Lift your shoulders off the floor while keeping your legs relatively stationary and vertical.
  3. Reach as far as your current flexibility and strength allow. Touching your toes isn't required immediately — work toward it over time.
  4. Lower with control. Return your shoulders to the floor smoothly rather than dropping quickly.

Common mistakes

  • Using momentum to fling the upper body up. A controlled crunch engages the abs more effectively than a fast, jerky reach.
  • Letting the legs drift away from vertical. Keeping the legs relatively stable and vertical is part of what makes this exercise effective for both halves of the abs.
  • Straining the neck to reach further. Reach with your torso and arms, not by craning your neck forward aggressively.
  • Doing high volume before building adequate strength. This is a more demanding combination movement than a basic crunch — build up gradually.

Sets & reps by level

Beginner

3 sets of 8–10 reps, with a slight knee bend if needed.

Intermediate

3–4 sets of 10–12 reps with straight legs.

Advanced

4 sets of 12–15 reps, focusing on a controlled, full-range reach.

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