How to Do the Lateral Band Walk for Stronger Side Glutes

Squats and hip thrusts get plenty of attention for glute growth — and for good reason. But lateral band walks are the underrated move you absolutely ​must​ add to your lower-body routine.

• ​What is a​ ​lateral band walk?​ It's an exercise that involves stepping to the side with a mini band around your legs, explains Melissa Garcia, DPT, a Washington-based physical therapist.
• ​What muscles does the lateral band walk work?​ It mainly targets your glute muscles, and is one of the best glute medius exercises, Garcia says. (Your glute med makes up the side and top of your glutes.)
• ​Who can do this move?​ This all-levels-welcome exercise is safe for most people. Although it's recommended for those working on their hip, spine, knee or ankle stability, anyone with a previous injury should talk to their doctor before trying new exercises, Garcia says.

This move is deceptively easy — meaning it looks way easier than it is. If you're doing a mini band lateral walk with good form, you should definitely feel some burn. And if not, you may want to re-assess your form in a mirror.

Strong glutes may help you squat heavier and run faster, but they also keep you injury-free. Your gluteus medius helps keep your hips and knees stable, which is a big part of injury prevention, says California-based trainer Carolina Araujo, CPT.

A strong gluteus medius can decrease your risk of lower-body injuries, aches and pains over time, she says. But considering most exercises or activities involve forward and backward (rather than side to side) motions, the glute med often doesn't get the attention it needs.

Lateral (side-to-side) exercises are perfect for preventing pain and strengthening this often-missed muscle.

Like clamshells, side band walks are a great way to activate your glute muscles before a workout, Araujo says. She suggests incorporating them into your dynamic warm-up routine.

Firing up your glutes before a hard workout ensures you're able to take full advantage of these muscles while you train, according to a July 2017 study in the ​​BMJ Open Sport & Exercise Medicine​​. In the long run, this helps build more muscle while you exercise.

Considering it's so helpful in stabilizing your hip joints, Garcia loves using this exercise to address lower back pain. By strengthening the glutes, you build pelvic stability, which helps reduce stress on your lower back.

However, always follow your doctor's or physical therapist's prescribed rehab routine before you mix in any new moves.

The greater the step, the greater the results, right? In this case, not exactly.

When you take steps that are too big, you start to rely on momentum and your legs (rather than your hips) to do the move, which defeats the purpose. Chances are, your knees will start to cave in, too, causing your form to break down.

This exercise should feel challenging, but you don't want to choose a band that hinders your form, Garcia says. If your knees or toes collapse or rotate inward as you step side to side, opt for a lighter band.

To get the most glute-building benefits out of this exercise, you want to stay in a semi-squat position, Araujo says.

Your thighs don't need to be completely parallel to the ground, but you want to keep a bend in your knees.

Putting the mini band around your feet is a little easier because it creates less resistance for your lower body to push against.

The banded ankle walk does place some side-to-side stress on your knees. So if you have any joint discomfort during the move, try placing the band around your thighs, just above your knees.

Using two bands instead of one adds more resistance, meaning your muscles have to work harder to step side to side.

Squatting lower to the ground with each step makes your glute (and even quad) muscles work harder as you walk side-to-side.