Lets Talk Lunges!

Let’s add a little lateral work to your routine!

This exercise is a fantastic way to add a little dynamic/lateral movement into your fitness routine!

A lot of times we get so stuck in performing exercises that keep us in one plane of motion that we tend to forget about strengthening the body in different yet common movement patterns; so today let's take a look at why lateral lunges are a must for both strengthening and stabilizing muscles that tend to be overlooked!

Lateral Lunge Benefits:

• Helps to strengthen dynamic movement in different planes; Frontal & Transverse

• Helps to strengthen all subsystem movements: DLS (Deep Longitudinal Subsystem), POS (Posterior Oblique Subsystem), AOS (Anterior Oblique Subsystem), LS (Lateral Subsystem), & Inner Unit (Core)

• Helps strengthen balance by maintaining center of gravity by activating specialized reflex actions by encouraging small shifting responses from muscle to control movement.

• Helps strengthen stabilization by involving all three systems in human movement passive (skeletal), active (muscular), and control (sensorimotor) to control and coordinate proper activation of certain muscles to provide stabilization

• Strength translates to other exercises from uniaxial, biaxial, to multiaxial movements

• Helps decrease chances of injury due to lateral movement: ACL tears, Ankle Instability, etc.

Muscles Targeted:

• Hip Extensors: Gluteus Maximus, Bicep Femoris Hamstrings (Semimebranosus, Semitendinosus)

• Knee Extensors: Quadriceps (Vastus Lateralis, Medialis, Intermedius & Rectus Femoris)

• Hip Abductors: Gluteus Medius & Minimus & Tensor Fasciae Latae

• Hip Adductors: Adductor Magnus, Longus, Brevis