Abductor exercises

Fire Hydrant

Also known as: fire hydrants · quadruped hip abduction

Primary
Abductors
Equipment
Bodyweight
Type
Isolation
Suggested rest
45 s
 
One side at a time

How to do the Fire Hydrant

  1. Get on all fours with hands under your shoulders and knees under your hips.

  2. Keeping the knee bent, lift one leg out to the side until your thigh is about parallel to the floor.

  3. Keep your back flat and your torso still, without leaning to the other side.

  4. Lower slowly, finish your reps, then switch legs.

Sets and reps

GoalSetsRepsRest
Muscle growth2–410–1545 s
Muscular endurance2–315–2545 s

When you hit the top of the rep range on every set, add a rep or a harder variation next session.

Starting points from training research. Stop each set 1–3 reps short of failure.

Muscles worked

Primary

Abductors

Secondary

Glutes

The outer hip (glute medius and minimus) moves the leg out and keeps your knees and pelvis stable on one leg. Abductions and band walks build it.

Alternatives

Same muscles, similar movement: swap in one of these if the Fire Hydrant doesn’t suit your gym or your joints.

Train smarter

More abductors

See all 7 →

Bodyweight abductor exercises