Abductor exercises

Prone Hip Circles

Also known as: Cercles de hanche à quatre pattes · Κυκλικές περιστροφές ισχίου σε τετραποδική θέση · Hip Circles (prone) · quadruped hip circles

Primary
Abductors
Equipment
Bodyweight
Level
Beginner
Type
Isolation
Force
Pull
Suggested rest
30 s
 
One side at a time

How to do the Prone Hip Circles

  1. Position yourself on your hands and knees on the ground. Maintaining good posture, raise one bent knee off of the ground. This will be your starting position.

  2. Keeping the knee in a bent position, rotate the femur in an arc, attempting to make a big circle with your knee.

  3. Perform this slowly for a number of repetitions, and repeat on the other side.

Sets and reps

GoalSetsRepsRest
Holds320–60 s30 s

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

Muscles worked

Primary

Abductors

Secondary

Adductors

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.

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More abductors

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Bodyweight abductor exercises