Exercise Guide

Side-Lying Leg Raise

A side-lying raise taken through a slower, longer arc, often with a pause at the top. Popular as high-rep burnout work at the end of a leg session.

BeginnerStrengthPushIsolation
Form
Side-Lying Leg Raise - Start position
Start
Side-Lying Leg Raise - Mid position
Mid
Side-Lying Leg Raise - End position
End

Illustrations by Bryl Lim for Workout Guide, after Everkinetic. Used unchanged under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Details

Primary Muscle

Glutes

Equipment

Bodyweight

Difficulty

Beginner

Category

Strength

Force

Push

Mechanic

Isolation

Secondary Muscles

CoreAdductors
How to Perform
  1. 1

    Lie on your side with your body in a straight line and your lower arm supporting your head.

  2. 2

    Raise your top leg slowly to around 45 degrees.

  3. 3

    Pause at the top and squeeze the outside of your hip.

  4. 4

    Lower over three seconds without letting the leg rest on the bottom one.

Tips
  • Keeping the leg off the bottom one between reps is what makes the set burn.
  • Point the toes forward, not up at the ceiling.
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