4 Best Glute Exercises
By Ehren Allen, DPT/Certified Orthopedic Manual Therapist
4 Best Home Glute Exercises
If your gym is closed due to COVID-19, you can still work those glutes at home. The 4 best glute exercises at home do not require expensive gym equipment, in fact, all you need is an exercise resistance band. If don’t have an exercise band, simply search online. A 5-pack of loop resistance bands costs between $8 to $25, depending on the brand.
Read this article to learn the proper squat technique by JOI Rehab.
Why is it Important to do Exercise for Glutes or Gluteus Muscles?
The quick answer is that working your glutes can help your knees? The gluteal muscles are very important for stabilizing the hip with daily activity such as walking, running, and stairs. They help to position the body over the leg. If the glutes are weak, it can cause extra stress on the knee and cause knee problems.
Image of Pelvis with a weak gluteus medius
Gluteus medius weakness related to knee pain is especially prevalent in adolescent female athletes. As the pelvis expands during female development, the stress on the glutes increase. The gluteal muscles must work harder to maintain proper leg and knee position with running and jumping. That’s why it is so important to make them strong!
There are 3 Gluteal muscles that work together with smaller muscles to move the hips and stabilize the pelvis. The three include, Gluteus Minimus, Gluteus Medius, and Gluteus Maximus. This article will give you the best exercises to work these three Gluteal Muscles.
Image of Gluteus Muscles
What are the 4 Best Exercises for Glutes at Home?
1. Squats with Exercise Band
Image of athlete performing squat with exercise band.
Place the band around your knees. Place the feet and knees shoulder width apart. Squat down to about a 90 degrees angle at the knee. Keep the butt back and keep the knees behind the toes. Be sure to keep the knees out and keep resistance on the band. Hold for 30 seconds. Repeat 3 times.
2. Side-Step Squat with Exercise Band
Image of athlete performing side step squats.
Keep the Exercise band around the knees. Hold a mini-squat position. Step sideways with resistance on the exercise band. Next, take 8 steps to the left, then 8 to the right. Repeat 3 times. To read about the proper way to squat by JOI Rehab, please go to this article: proper squat technique
3. Bridges with Exercise Band
Image of athlete performing bridges.
To begin, lie on your back with your knees bent and place the exercise band around the knees. After that, lift the buttocks and back off the table and keep resistance on the band to stimulate glute contractions during the exercise. Hold 20 seconds. Repeat 20 times.
4. Side-lying Straight Leg Raises
Image of athlete performing Side-lying leg raises.
Lie on your side with the legs and body straight. Lift the top leg about 18 inches with the leg straight. Hold for 30 seconds. Repeat 3 times. (Be careful to avoid rolling backwards as the leg gets tired.)
Glute Exercise Matters! But Why are Glute Exercises Important?
Doing the 4 best glute exercises at home can be a great way to protect your knees, hips, and back. Additionally, working the gluteal muscles can help you stay in shape during the COVID-19 crisis.
However, if you have any pain during these exercises you should stop immediately. Muscle fatigue and soreness are pretty normal. Sharp pain or pinching is not normal. To schedule physical therapy at JOI Rehab, please call 904-858-7045.
Please read how you can have Direct Access to Physical Therapy at JOI Rehab.
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If you have pain in your knees, hips, or back, strengthening may help. If pain persists, the Jacksonville Orthopedic Institute is here to help.
To schedule and appointment, please call 904-JOI-2000, schedule online or click the link below. JOI MD’s are now offering ASAP Injury or Fracture appointments.
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Image of Ehren Allen, DPT, COMT – Content Writer