Do scissor kicks help with ABS?
Scissor kicks are an effective abs and core exercise that involves lying on your back and moving your legs in a scissoring motion, alternating each up and down. They target your lower abs, but they will also work your quads and lower body, as well as your core. They also help strengthen your hip flexors.
What part of ABS does scissor kicks work?
The scissor kick exercise works your core muscles, glutes, quads and adductors. Engaging your core muscles is what allows you to “flutter” your legs up and down. The core muscles include the rectus abdominis, obliques, transverse abdominis, and the hip flexors.
How do you scissor kicks?
How to Do Scissor Kicks
- Lie on your back with your arms down by your sides.
- Lift both of your legs a few inches off the ground and separate them slightly into a “V” shape.
- Keeping both legs straight, bring your legs together and cross your right leg over the left.
- Continue alternating until you’ve completed all reps.
How do you do a scissor kick with weights?
To take it up a notch:
- Use ankle weights.
- Crisscross your legs each time you do a rep.
- Add some sit-ups to the mix (it’s INTENSE 🔥).
- Use a resistance band around your ankles or lower legs.
- Slow down your kicks and hold each lift for 3–5 seconds.
Do scissor kicks burn calories?
But if you do them near the end of your exercise routine, you’ll also find they are good at increasing your endurance. The great thing about flutter kicks is that you burn between 20 and 120 calories in one session. That may not sound a lot, but it’s as many as you’ll burn running for 15 minutes at a medium pace!
Are butterfly kicks good for abs?
The takeaway. Flutter kicks can be a low impact and effective way to strengthen your core and work your lower abs, glutes, hip flexors, and quads. When done while lying on your stomach, flutter kicks can also strengthen your lower back muscles and help alleviate back pain.
What muscles do scissor kicks work?
More specifically, scissor kicks target your abs, glutes, quads and hips. The move requires you to use your core to move your legs up and down in a controlled movement and this skill can be transferred to simple everyday activities like picking up a laundry basket or gardening outside.
How do I perform a scissor kick correctly?
Because performing a scissor kick correctly requires you to maintain a strong core throughout the entire exercise, I recommend starting with the modification. Slowly increase the angle of your legs while also steadily increasing the distance that you move your legs up and down toward the mat.
What is the difference between a scissor kick and leg raise?
Leg raises are similar to scissor kicks, however, keeping your legs together instead of moving them individually makes it easier to lower and raise them. Begin in the same starting position as the scissor kick, with your legs straight up toward the ceiling.