Top Side Leg Exercises for Sculpted Thighs & Muscles
I know a lot of people want to sculpt and build muscles in their upper thighs for a more sculpted look. Today we will talk about the top-side leg exercises for sculpted thighs and the surrounding muscles in the butt and thigh area.
Building strength and toning your lower body, particularly your hips and outer thighs, is crucial not just for an enviable physique, but also for improving your daily activities. Side leg exercises offer numerous health benefits, ranging from enhanced range of motion in the hip joints to strengthened core muscles.
If you are looking to improve your lower body strength, boost your athletic performance, or just tone up your legs then you should read this blog post. Including side leg exercises in your workout routine might be the perfect solution.
These exercises target various muscle groups, including your glutes, thighs, and hips, helping to enhance your overall balance, stability, and strength. Here’s a closer look at some of the best side leg exercises you can incorporate into your fitness routine.
*This post includes my affiliate links
Top Side Leg Exercises for Sculpted Thighs & Muscles
Let’s delve deeper into some effective side leg exercises, the role of equipment like resistance bands and the cable machine, and common mistakes to avoid.
1. Side Leg Lifts
This simple, yet effective, exercise is a great way to start. Side leg lifts, also known as side leg raises, primarily target the hip abductor muscles, which are critical for movement and stability.
How to do it: Lie on your side with your legs extended straight. Keep your body in a straight line, rest your head on your lower arm, and use your top arm for stability. Slowly lift your top leg as high as you comfortably can, then lower it back down. Repeat for a set number of repetitions, then switch sides.
2. Lateral Lunges
Lateral lunges are a superb exercise for working the thighs, hips, and glutes. Plus, they help improve balance and flexibility.
How to do it: Stand straight with your feet hip-width apart. Take a big step to the right, then bend your right knee to lunge, keeping your left leg straight. Push back to your starting position and repeat on the left side.
3. Fire Hydrants
Fire hydrants are my absolutely favorite to do! They target the gluteus maximus and hip abductors. Named for a dog’s manner of relieving itself at a fire hydrant, this exercise is a great addition to your lower body workout.
How to do it: Get on all fours with your hands under your shoulders and your knees under your hips. Keeping your knee bent, lift your right leg out to the side until it’s level with your hip. Lower your leg back down. Repeat, then switch to your left leg.
4. Side Plank Leg Lifts
Adding a leg lift to a side plank increases the challenge and activates your core, hips, and glutes all at once.
How to do it: Start in a side plank position, balancing on one forearm and the side of one foot. Keep your body straight from head to heels. Lift your top leg as high as you can, then lower it back down. Repeat for a set number of reps, then switch sides.
5. Skater Squats
Skater squats are a dynamic exercise that challenges your balance and stability while working your legs and glutes.
How to do it: Stand straight and jump to the right, landing on your right foot and bending your right knee into a squat. Swing your arms to your right side for momentum. Jump to the left, landing on your left foot and bending your left knee into a squat. Repeat this side-to-side movement.
6. Lateral Leg Raises
This is a Great Exercise for Hip Flexors and Gluteus Medius. The gluteus medius, a primary muscle in your outer upper legs, plays a significant role in maintaining balance and stability.
Lateral leg raises, whether done in a standing position or as a floor-based exercise, provide a simple way of strengthening this muscle group and the hip flexors.
How to do it: For the standing version, start by standing straight with feet hip-width apart. Keeping your right leg straight, slowly lift it to the side as high as it will go, then slowly lower it back down.
You can hold onto a sturdy object for balance. Switch sides after a set number of repetitions. See above (number 1) for the side-lying version (side-lying leg lifts).
Adding Resistance
Don’t Be Afraid To Add Resistance and Weights for Intensity! To increase the intensity of your workout, you can use resistance bands or ankle weights.
For instance, during lateral leg raises or side leg lift exercises, strapping a resistance band around your ankles or wearing ankle weights makes the primary muscles, including the hip adductors and gluteus medius, work harder.
You can also use a cable machine for standing leg raises. Secure the cable around your ankle and stand sideways to the machine, keeping your right hand on the machine for balance and your left hand on your hip. Lift your left leg to the side up to about shoulder height, then lower it back down. Switch sides after completing your set.
Other Beneficial Side Leg Exercises
Other great exercises to consider include the swinging motion of skater squats and goblet squats. These dynamic movements engage not only your glutes and thighs but also your abdominal muscles, offering a well-rounded leg day workout.
Remember, while performing any of these exercises, body weight should be sufficiently managed to avoid strain on the knee joints, which can cause knee pain. The most common mistake during these exercises is not keeping the back straight or not performing the full range of motion.
Incorporating these exercises into your strength training routine is a fantastic way of building strength in your hip flexors, gluteus medius, and the front and back of your thighs.
So, whether it’s for boosting your athletic performance or just toning your inner and outer thighs, give these exercises a try and experience their multiple benefits.
Remember, proper form is crucial when performing these exercises to prevent injury and maximize results. Start with a manageable number of repetitions and gradually increase as your strength and endurance improve. Incorporating these side leg exercises into your workout routine will help you build lower body strength and tone up your legs.
Proper Form Video
Watch The Video Below for information on proper form when working out
What Is Your Reason For Doing These Exercises???
Building Muscle Mass
If your objective is to build muscle mass in your outer thighs, you’ll want to focus on strength and resistance training. This involves performing exercises such as lateral leg raises, skater squats, and goblet squats with added resistance and at a lower number of repetitions. By challenging your muscles more intensely, but for a shorter duration, you encourage muscle growth.
For example, ankle weights or resistance bands can add an extra challenge to lateral leg raises, while holding a dumbbell close to your chest during goblet squats can increase the resistance your muscles work against.
The standing leg raise can also be done using a cable machine for added resistance. In each case, the additional resistance makes your outer thigh muscles work harder, promoting muscle growth.
Slimming Down Outer Thighs
If, on the other hand, you’re aiming to slim down your outer thighs, the same exercises can be effective when performed as part of a fat-burning, high-repetition workout.
Rather than adding resistance, focus on performing more repetitions of each exercise with proper form. This kind of endurance training helps to tone muscles and burn fat, leading to slimmer thighs over time.
In addition to high-repetition strength training, incorporating cardiovascular exercise into your routine can also help to slim down your thighs.
Exercises like skater squats, which involve dynamic, full-body movements, not only work your outer thigh muscles but also get your heart rate up, promoting fat loss.
Balance and Consistency
Whether your goal is to build muscle or slim down, remember the importance of balance and consistency. It’s essential to work all the muscles in your lower body, not just your outer thighs, to prevent muscle imbalances.
Regularly performing these exercises — along with maintaining a balanced diet — is key to seeing the results you want. Always be sure to listen to your body, rest when needed, and gradually increase your workout intensity to avoid injury.
All in all, side leg exercises are a great way to either build muscle or slim down your outer thighs, depending on how you use them. With a combination of targeted exercises, cardiovascular workouts, and a healthy diet, you can effectively shape your thighs to achieve your fitness goals.
Side leg exercises are an essential component of any comprehensive strength training program. Exercises like lateral leg raises, skater squats, and goblet squats, whether performed with body weight or added resistance, offer tremendous benefits. They focus on strengthening and toning key areas such as the gluteus medius, hip flexors, and thighs.
Not only do they enhance your physical appearance by toning these muscles, but they also improve your balance, stability, and range of motion, ultimately benefiting your daily activities.
However, the proper form is crucial to avoid common mistakes and potential knee pain. Incorporate these exercises into your regular routine to reap their numerous health benefits and to make every day a productive leg day.
Disclaimer: Please note that this blog post, side leg exercises, is not a substitute for medical advice. The information provided above should not be used as a basis for diagnosing, treating, or preventing any medical condition or disease. Before making any modifications to your diet, sleep regimen, daily routine, or exercise program, consult your physician. My Fitness Routines is not liable for any physical harm or injury that may result from the suggestions, opinions, or recommendations provided in this article.