Hanging Knees to Elbows
Hanging Knees to Elbows demonstration
Watch the demo so setup and tempo are clear before you follow the step-by-step cues.

Performing the: A Step-by-Step Tutorial Hanging Knees to Elbows
Work through the cues in order so setup, bracing, and reps stay consistent before you add load.
- Engage your core, and while keeping your legs and feet together, raise your knees upward towards your chest.
- Continue to lift your knees past your chest, aiming to touch your elbows, while keeping your body as still as possible to avoid swinging.
- Hold this position for a second before slowly lowering your legs back to the starting position, ensuring the movement is controlled to maximize the effectiveness of the exercise.
- Repeat this process for your desired number of repetitions, making sure to maintain proper form throughout the exercise.
Tips for Performing Hanging Knees to Elbows
Form reminders that keep range of motion and control in check once the basic pattern feels stable.
- **Engage Your Core:** The hanging knees to elbows exercise is primarily a core workout. When raising your knees, engage your core muscles rather than relying on the momentum or swinging. This not only enhances the effectiveness of the exercise but also minimizes the risk of injury.
- **Controlled Movement:** Avoid rushing through the exercise. Each movement should be slow and controlled. This helps to ensure that your muscles are fully engaged and reduces the risk of injury.
- **Avoid Overextending Your Arms:** While it's important to maintain a slight bend in your elbows to avoid joint strain, be sure not to overextend or lock your arms during the exercise. This can lead to elbow injuries over time.
- **Breathing Technique:** As with any exercise
Can beginners do the Hanging Knees to Elbows?
A short framing note on whether this pattern suits newer lifters before you load it heavily.
Yes, beginners can do the Hanging Knees to Elbows exercise, however, it may be challenging as it requires good upper body strength and core stability. It's important to start slow and focus on maintaining good form to avoid injury. If it's too difficult, beginners can start with simpler exercises like hanging knee raises or leg raises to build up their strength before progressing to the Hanging Knees to Elbows exercise.
What are common variations of the Hanging Knees to Elbows?
Compare these progressions when the main pattern is solid or you need a different stimulus with similar equipment.
- The Standing Knees to Elbows variation involves standing upright, raising your knees high, and touching them with your elbows.
- The Seated Knees to Elbows variation requires you to sit on a bench, lean back slightly, and bring your knees up to touch your elbows.
- The Incline Knees to Elbows variation can be done on an incline bench, where you lie back and bring your knees up to touch your elbows.
- The Swiss Ball Knees to Elbows variation involves using a stability ball where you lie with your lower back on the ball, and bring your knees up to touch your elbows.



