Every Wednesday, STACK features an Exercise of the Week to help you improve your overall sports performance—including strength, speed, conditioning and flexibility. This week we highlight the Resisted Lateral Squat, a lower body exercise that develops muscles around the hips.
Who's Doing It
- Drew Brees, NFL Quarterback
Muscular Benefits
- Increases inner and outer hip strength, including the glute and groin muscles
- Improves overall hip and leg strength and stability
Resisted Lateral Squat Sports Performance Benefits
- Creates balanced hip strength—critical for athletes who are constantly changing directions, such as hockey players
- Increases abductor [outer hip] strength, which prevents the knees from collapsing inward when squatting or landing from a jump
- Helps prevent knee injuries
- Improves skill or exercise technique
Resisted Lateral Squat Description
- Assume athletic position with resistance band around ankles
- Step to side with right leg into wide stance
- Bend at hips to lower into squat
- Simultaneously drive up out of squat and step with left leg toward body to return to start position; repeat for specified reps
- Perform set in opposite direction
Sets/Reps: 3x8 each direction
Resisted Lateral Squat Coaching Points
- Keep tension on resistance band throughout movement
- Prevent knees from collapsing inward
- Maintain tight core
- Keep chest and head up
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Photo Credit: Getty Images // Thinkstock
