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: 3×8 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

Do you have an exercise that you want to see featured as an Exercise of the Week? Tweet us at @STACKMedia to let us know.