Stronger thighs, stronger you: Inner thigh exercises to try
What's the story
Strengthening the inner thighs is important for the overall stability and balance of your legs.
These muscles are essential in providing support to your hips and knees, making your posture better and movement easier.
By adding certain exercises to your routine, you can effectively target these muscles.
Here are five exercises to strengthen the inner thighs, improve your mobility, and reduce the risk of injury.
Wide stance
Sumo squats
Sumo squats effectively hits the inner thigh muscles.
Stand with feet wider than shoulder-width, toes out.
Lower into a squat while keeping the back straight and chest up.
Make sure knees don't go beyond toes.
Push through heels to stand.
This builds strength in the inner thighs and glutes.
Lateral movement
Side lunges
Side lunges emphasize on strengthening the inner thighs while moving laterally.
Start by standing with feet hip-width apart.
Step out to one side, bending that knee while keeping the other leg straight, lowering yourself into a lunge position.
Throughout the move, keep your chest lifted and core engaged.
Return to standing by pushing off with the bent leg's heel, then repeat on the other side.
Targeted isolation
Inner thigh leg lifts
Inner thigh leg lifts isolate these muscles perfectly, without any equipment.
Lie on one side with legs extended straight out, stacking them on top of each other.
Lift only the top leg towards the ceiling while keeping it straight; hold briefly before lowering it back down slowly without touching the bottom leg completely between reps for continuous tension.
Flexibility focus
Butterfly stretch exercise
The butterfly stretch exercise improves flexibility and strengthens inner thighs.
Simply sit with soles together, pressing knees down gently for a mild stretch.
Aim for gradual progress with regular practice without feeling discomfort.
This consistent effort over time can improve your mobility and reduce injury risk, helping you achieve long-term health and well-being goals.