How to Strengthen Your Hips

Recently, I wrote about the benefits of strong hips to decrease the incidence of knee and ankle problems. How about some simple, body weight exercises which can be done to strengthen the hips?

1. Squats – single or double leg squats are great for overall hip strengthening. Single leg squats are especially good at targeting an important hip stabilizer, the gluteus medius.
2. Lunges – can be done in place or in a walk. Can also be done to the side and on a diagonal.
3. Bulgarian Split Squats - get in a lunge position with your back foot elevated. Drop the back knee, making sure not to let the front knee go past your toes.
4. Glute-Ham Raise – do on a glute-ham bench or with a partner holding your ankles.
5. Dead Lift – performed both single leg and double leg.

There are more, but these are some of my favorites. Remember, you should always talk to your doctor prior to starting a new program. Also, these exercises need to be done properly – bad technique can lead to injury - do some research or consult a professional!