Lunges have been around for a long time, but what if I told you there’s a better way to lunge as a runner? The old form of dropping your knee to the ground and returning serves some well, but not us–not runners.
In a sport where injuries are all too frequent, some research indicating upwards of 80%, runners are continuously seeking help through online searches. If anything is well documented in the running literature, it’s the role of our hips in running. Strong hips, primarily butt muscles, are crucial to preventing injury. It’s not even specific to where the injury is located. As of now, the best jumping off point for foot, knee, and hip injuries (both prevention and rehab) is to strengthen the hips.
While other articles will have you lunging until the cows come home, I want to spice up your lunges, tweaking them ever so slightly to cue in your butt muscles. Take a look at the video below as I show you a few ways to change your lunges for the better. This small tweak will help forge stronger hips, allowing you to stay on the road and out of the doc’s office.
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