Side Leg Raises
A beginner mobility exercise that works the inner thighs, needing no equipment.
Starting position
End position
How to Do Side Leg Raises
- Stand next to a chair, which you may hold onto as a support. Stand on one leg. This will be your starting position.
- Keeping your leg straight, raise it as far out to the side as possible, and swing it back down, allowing it to cross the opposite leg.
- Repeat this swinging motion 5-10 times, increasing the range of motion as you do so.
Muscles Worked
Alternatives to Side Leg Raises
5 movements that train the same primary muscle, closest substitutes first — same kind of training, then variations of the movement itself, then a similar difficulty.
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1
Side Lying Groin Stretch
A beginner isolation mobility exercise that works the inner thighs.
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2
Lying Bent Leg Groin
An advanced mobility exercise that works the inner thighs.
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3
Adductor/Groin
An intermediate mobility exercise that works the inner thighs.
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4
Groin and Back Stretch
An intermediate compound mobility exercise that works the inner thighs.
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5
Groiners
An intermediate compound mobility exercise that works the inner thighs, needing no equipment.
Frequently Asked Questions
What muscles do side leg raises work?
Side Leg Raises primarily works the inner thighs.
What equipment do I need for side leg raises?
None. Side Leg Raises is a bodyweight movement you can do anywhere you have floor space.
Side Leg Raises: is it suitable for beginners?
Yes. Side Leg Raises is rated beginner. Movements you can learn in a session, with a low skill floor and a forgiving failure mode.
What can I do instead of side leg raises?
Side Lying Groin Stretch, Lying Bent Leg Groin, Adductor/Groin train the same primary muscles and are listed with 2 more alternatives above.
How do I log side leg raises in Fitnit?
As time held rather than reps. Fitnit records the seconds and credits them to the inner thighs on your body map, so you can see which muscles you train hard and never stretch.
Photographs and step-by-step instructions from free-exercise-db, a public-domain exercise dataset. Muscle mapping and alternatives by Fitnit.
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