Barbell Seated Twist

Target muscle

Abs

Also works

Obliques, lower back

Equipment

Barbell

Body part

Waist

How to do the barbell seated twist

1. Sit on a flat bench with your feet flat on the ground and your knees bent.
2. Hold a barbell with both hands in front of your chest, keeping your elbows slightly bent.
3. Engage your core and slowly twist your torso to one side, keeping your back straight.
4. Pause for a moment at the end of the twist, then slowly rotate back to the starting position.
5. Repeat the twist to the other side.
6. Continue alternating sides for the desired number of repetitions.

Sets and reps

For muscle growth, 3–4 sets of 8–12 reps with 60–90 seconds of rest is a proven starting point. For strength, use a heavier weight for 3–5 sets of 3–6 reps and rest 2–3 minutes. Add a little weight once you hit the top of your rep range on every set.

Muscles worked

The main muscle is the abs. The obliques and lower back work as secondary muscles. See all ab exercises or every barbell exercise.