Leg Exercises: Side-lying Straight Leg Hip Abduction

This is one of those moves that appear easy but if done right, you’ll really feel it the next day. It’s also technically a move for your glutes, but I don’t have a category for that in the exercise library… though maybe I should!

How to do the move

Laying on your side, stack your legs one on top of the other. Slowly lift the top leg as far as you can keeping your leg straight. Slowly return your leg to rest on top of the other one. If you need additional stability you can bend your bottom leg. The real key to this exercise is to do it slowly while concentrating on using your leg muscles versus momentum or gravity to do the movement.

Muscles that benefit

There is really only one muscle that this move works and that is the glutes.

How to use this move

This is a great move to add to the end of your workout as a burnout, or in between sets as an active rest.

Get the equipment

This move does not require any equipment however you can add some ankle weights or even hold your Ultimate Sandbag on your thigh while doing the move to make it more challenging.

Photo by Nina Matthews is licensed under CC BY 2.0