In this post, I want to show you how we will actually strengthen our glutes after we have ensured that they are turned on and ready to go. In our situation, when hockey players get into the routine of playing and/or practicing every day, the hip flexors can become short and tight. It is imperative that the glutes and hip extensors are doing their jobs as effectively as possible on the opposite side of the hips to help allow the hip flexors to relax.
After our activation phase in our workouts, we will utilize exercises in our workouts that strengthen the glutes in conjunction with other muscles to produce hip extension and hip external rotation.
We will use many different exercises and patterns within our strength program that will ensure the glutes are used. These are just some examples that we use all throughout the year:
Kettle Bell Slideboard Split Squat- This is a great exercise that is frequently used in-season. The glute on the front leg gets a lot of work on the ascent back up to the starting position.
Kettle Bell 1-Leg S.L.D.L.- This is an exercise that we use for single leg hip-hinging and hip extension patterns.
Slideboard Leg Curl- This is one of our favorite hip extension plus knee flexion pattern. This is a great way to strengthen the hamstrings while getting good glute contraction to keep the hips extended.
Bench Hip Lift- This is a new variation that we have been incorporating into our program for the last year or so. We have recently been experimenting with loading this movement more and more. Although we have done this as an “activation” exercise on the stability ball in the past, I have recently been re-introduced to this by Bret Contreras. We will continue to look for ways to progress in this exercise by adding load and/or going to single leg variations.
6 Responses to “Glute Strengthening”
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Hi Sean, great information as always. I have a couple of questions regarding the slideboard lunge.
1) Where would you consider placing this exercise in the progression of the knee dominant movement pattern? I’ve played around with introducing this after a client/athlete has become strong in the rear foot elevated split squat but before I have them do a single-leg squat, but I don’t think I’ve heard anyone discuss its placement in the realm of progressions.
2) I was wondering if you consider there to be any added benefit to the hip of the leg on the slideboard during the ascent of this movement? It seems like a bonus of this exercise could be that the demands of hip flexion and extension on opposite sides of the body during the ascent introduce a pattern not often replicated in other exercises. Would you agree or disagree? Thanks for any insight you can provide!
Jack- Thanks for the questions and great to see you last weekend at the Summit.
1- This is actually more of a hybrid exercise and might not fit on the progression. It is indeed a knee-dominant movement, however, there is a hip-extension dominance as well. I have always progressed from a db rear-foot elevated split squat to the 1-leg box squat. Now, I would consider a 1-leg squat to bench in between db rfess and 1-leg box squat.
2- Definitely added benefit of the leg on the slideboard. I think the lengthening plus the transition to flexion is very beneficial. Thanks again.
Thanks Sean! It was great seeing you too. I appreciate your advice; I’m excited to implement the glute activation and strengthening exercises with my teams this fall.
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Re: Bench Hip Lift
Sean, have you seen Dewey Nielsen’s single leg version of this movement? I love the way he loads this exercise as well. There’s no point in describing it when there’s already a video available: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D5U3LU8eecs
Yes- I have. I really like it. We are now loading it with success. Thanks for posting!