
Video: Glute strengthening exercises
Peer reviewed by Dr Sarah JarvisLast updated by Lilly Sabri, MHPCLast updated 29 Nov 2017
Meets Patient’s editorial guidelines
- DownloadDownload
- Share
- Language
- Discussion
- Audio Version
- Add to preferred sources on Google
Strengthening the movement in your lower back, glute and core muscles is the gateway into improving your ability to perform various other exercises.
Playlist: Glute Strengthening Exercises
2 videos
Glute Strengthening Exercises
Lilly Sabri, MHPC
Glute Strengthening Exercises
Lilly Sabri, MHPC

Glute Strengthening - Clam Exercises
Lilly Sabri, MHPC
Glute stretches
Glute max to support lower back
Get on all fours, with your hands directly under your shoulders and knees under hips.
Complete four cat/camel stretches - before finding neutral spine. Neutral spine is the point in the middle of cat and camel where your back is flat and you can balance an imaginary tray of drinks on your lower back.
Pull your core and stomach muscles in before shifting your body weight on to your left side and lifting your right leg up to 90° at the knee and hip, if able.
With your right foot flexed, pump the leg up towards the ceiling, leading with your right heel. Lift a few inches up and down with the leg to complete the donkey kick exercise.
Complete 20 repetitions on each leg, twice daily.
Clam exercise
Lie on your side with your knees bent, and your ankles and knees touching.
Try to create a small gap under your waist by drawing your stomach muscles in and activating the core muscles.
While keeping your feet together, open your knees apart in a slow controlled movement before closing them together again. Complete 20 repetitions on each side, twice daily.
Be careful to avoid your hips rolling and falling out of correct form. Keep the hips facing forward by pretending you have a full glass resting on your upper hip.
To increase the difficulty of this exercise, raise your feet up on to an imaginary stool, keeping the knees on the floor, and repeat the clam exercise.
Patient picks for Exercise and physical activity

Healthy living
Do you really need to walk 10,000 steps a day?
Are you wearing a device like a smartwatch to track your steps? If so, the goal of 10,000 steps a day may have become a bit of an obsession. But is focusing on this number the best way to improve your health? We ask an expert whether all this counting is really doing us any good.
by Lawrence Higgins

Healthy living
6 health benefits of swimming
Around 14 million people in England go swimming every year. Indoor swimming remains a popular activity, while open water swimming is steadily on the rise. Many children typically attend swimming lessons with their schools, and that's not counting the Brits who swim abroad while on holiday. While swimming can be fun, did you know it's actually improving your health at the same time?
by Lynn Stephen
About the authorView full bio

Lilly Sabri, MHPC
Physiotherapist, Personal Trainer
BSc Physiotherapy, MCSP, MHPC, MAACP, MACSPM
Lilly Sabri is a chartered Physiotherapist, APPI pilates instructor, fitness, health and lifestyle influencer and founder of #LeanWithLilly.
About the reviewerView full bio

Dr Sarah Jarvis
Clinical Consultant
MA (Cantab), BM, BCh (Oxon), DRCOG, FRCGP, MBE
After training in medicine at Cambridge and Oxford, Dr Sarah Jarvis MBE became a GP.
Article history
The information on this page is peer reviewed by qualified clinicians.
Article also available in English, German, Spanish, French, Italian, Portuguese, Hindi, Hebrew, Arabic, and Swedish.
29 Nov 2017 | Latest version
Join the conversation
Share your thoughts or experiences with others in our patient communities.

Ask, share, connect.
Browse discussions, ask questions, and share experiences across hundreds of health topics.

Feeling unwell?
Assess your symptoms online for free
Sign up to the Patient newsletter
Your weekly dose of clear, trustworthy health advice - written to help you feel informed, confident and in control.
By subscribing you accept our Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe at any time. We never sell your data.
More in healthy living
- 6 health benefits of swimming
- NewDeep resting squat - can this simple posture unlock flexibility, mobility, and longevity?
- Does apple cider vinegar help with weight loss?
- UpdatedDoes getting good sleep really improve your skin?
- Helping your child cope with stress and worry over Christmas
- How does losing a lot of weight affect your mental health?
- How obesity affects joint health - and what you can do about it
- How to become more flexible
- How to support your child if they are being cyberbullied
- How to work out in a heatwave
- Is your lifestyle impacting your sex drive?
- Safer than cigarettes? The rise of vaping in schools
- Tips for a healthier online life
- What causes sleepwalking and how can you stop?
- What to do if you feel lonely
- What your dreams can reveal about your health
- Why can't I sleep? 12 common causes and what to do
- Will the government's obesity strategy work?
- Women's health in sport: injuries, menstruation, and motherhood