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Exercise guide

Dumbbell Side Bend

How to do the Dumbbell Side Bend with correct form, the muscles it works, and where it fits a training plan you actually stick to.

IsolationDumbbellBeginnerPull
Primary muscles

Abs

Secondary

Equipment

Dumbbell

Step by step

How to do the Dumbbell Side Bend

  1. 1

    Stand up straight while holding a dumbbell on the left hand (palms facing the torso) as you have the right hand holding your waist. Your feet should be placed at shoulder width. This will be your starting position.

  2. 2

    While keeping your back straight and your head up, bend only at the waist to the right as far as possible. Breathe in as you bend to the side. Then hold for a second and come back up to the starting position as you exhale. Tip: Keep the rest of the body stationary.

  3. 3

    Now repeat the movement but bending to the left instead. Hold for a second and come back to the starting position.

  4. 4

    Repeat for the recommended amount of repetitions and then change hands.

In Ascend

Log it, see it on your body.

Every Dumbbell Side Bend set you log feeds Ascend's anatomy heatmap — so your abs volume is visible at a glance — and counts toward your bodyweight-strength tier.

Related

More abs exercises

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