If you want to run comfortably, then you need to have a strong base – and that means working those leg muscles. It’s not just the glutes and quads you need to worry about though; the muscles on the insides of our legs often get overlooked when we move sagittally (front and back). Lateral (side-to-side) lunges can help to redress that imbalance and keep us running, injury-free.

So, what exactly is a lateral lunge and what muscles does it work?

A lateral lunge is simply a lunge done in the lateral plane – i.e. sideways. It’s great for:

A good lower body workout: Targets every bit of the leg while challenging the body to move in a less common direction.
Adaptable: To make it easier, take a more narrow step out and don’t go too deep. To make it harder, add some weight or reduce the amount of time that both feet are on the ground.
Great for balance: It’s not just about strength but balance and flexibility. In time you’ll be able to lunge deeper – without any wobbles.

Lateral lunge your way to stronger legs