Side lunge

Muscles worked: Quads
Quads
🔧 no equipment ↕ Push 🔁 reps Difficulty:

Muscle outlines from Body Muscles by Ivan Vulović, Apache 2.0 — regrouped and recoloured for Muscle Train.

How to perform

Stand with feet hip-width apart, core engaged, shoulders back, and weight evenly distributed. Step wide to one side (e.g., right), planting your foot flat, toes forward. The stance should be 1.5-2 times shoulder width, adjusting for hip mobility. Keep the opposite leg (left) straight. Lower by bending your right knee and pushing hips back, as if sitting into a chair. Lower until your right thigh is roughly parallel to the floor, keeping your chest upright and weight in your right heel and midfoot. Right knee tracks over your toes. Drive back to standing, squeezing your right glute and inner thigh. Alternate sides for each rep. Inhale on the step down, exhale on the push-up.

Muscles Worked

Gluteus maximusquadricepship adductors (adductor longusadductor magnus)
Secondary: Gluteus medius, hamstrings, core stabilizers (obliques, transverse abdominis)

Tips

Prioritize hip movement back, not just knee bend. Ensure your working knee tracks over your toes; narrow your stance if it collapses inward. Keep the trailing leg straight to maximize adductor stretch. Maintain an upright chest; reduce depth if needed. Drive through the entire foot on the upward movement for stability.

Similar exercises

Plyo side lunge Quads, Glutes · 🔧 no equipment 3/10 Rear lunge Quads · 🔧 no equipment 3/10 Balance trainer side lunge Glutes · 🔧 Balance Trainer 3/10 Lunge Glutes, Hamstrings · 🔧 no equipment 2/10 Kettlebell side lunge and clean Quads, Hamstrings, Glutes, Abs · 🔧 Kettlebell 4/10 Lateral lunge Glutes, Hamstrings · 🔧 no equipment 2/10 Dumbbell lunge Quads · 🔧 Dumbbell 3/10 Barbell lunge Quads · 🔧 Barbell 4/10
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