2026 data 111 exercises Form cues + variations

Body Only Exercises

111 movements use body only, grouped below by primary muscle.

Exercises

111

using this equipment

Muscle groups

15

covered

Most common

Abdominals

42 exercises

Other equipment

8

alternatives listed

Covers 15 primary muscle groups - computed from the full exercise-to-muscle mapping.

What the Body Only Exercise Data Reveals

111 movements in the PlainExercise database list body only as the required equipment. Those 111 records span 15 distinct primary muscle groups, led by abdominals (42), quadriceps (14), chest (14). Every entry is sourced from the public-domain Free Exercise DB and grouped below by the upstream primary-muscle tag, no records are synthesised or re-categorised, so the distribution reflects what practitioners and federations have historically classified for this equipment class.

A broad muscle-group spread for a single equipment class signals that the tool is programmable across a full-body template rather than niche-specific; a narrow spread signals a specialist tool best paired with complementary equipment. With 15 primary-muscle groups represented, body only is versatile enough to anchor a full training programme on its own. Detail pages for each listed movement include mechanic (compound vs isolation), force profile (push vs pull vs static), difficulty, and step-by-step instructions from the upstream record.

Context matters: equipment alone does not determine training outcome. Load, volume, technique, rest, and recovery all shape whether a movement pattern produces the intended adaptation, and no equipment class is strictly required, bodyweight, dumbbells, bands, and a barbell cover the overwhelming majority of common patterns. This page is general educational information, not medical or personal-training advice. Consult a physician, physical therapist, or certified trainer before starting or modifying an exercise programme, especially if you have pre-existing injuries, joint pain, cardiovascular conditions, or are pregnant.

abdominals (42)

quadriceps (14)

chest (14)

triceps (9)

glutes (8)

hamstrings (5)

lats (4)

adductors (3)

abductors (3)

shoulders (2)

lower back (2)

neck (2)

calves (1)

biceps (1)

forearms (1)

Other equipment

See also

Source: Free Exercise DB (CC0) + wger.de (AGPL), 2026. See the methodology page.

Disclaimer: General information only. Consult a physician or certified trainer before starting any new exercise program.

Data sourced from official open-source exercise reference databases (wger.de, public exercise repositories). See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainExercise Editorial

Every figure on PlainExercise is compiled from public exercise-science and biomechanics references, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on the Free Exercise DB and wger.de, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.