The ThighMaster is a relatively limited piece of exercise equipment. Little more than two handles connected by a resistance spring, the ThighMaster was originally marketed as the workout solution for shapely thighs. While you can use the ThighMaster to work other muscle groups, the exercises are sometimes awkward and don't offer the same range of motion and choices of resistance levels available from other home exercise equipment such as dumbbells and resistance bands.
Inner Pecs
There is one upper body exercise where the ThighMaster shines: It offers just enough range of motion for working your inner pecs or chest muscles. Most common chest exercises, including standard push-ups and bench presses, focus more on the outer fibers of the pecs.
To work your inner pecs, hold the ThighMaster out in front of you, just below shoulder level. Grip one handle in each hand, the middle spring pointing away from you. Keep both arms straight but not locked as you squeeze the ThighMaster handles together, then slowly release them against the spring's resistance.
Lats
The counterpart to your chest muscles, which are responsible for pushing movements, are the lats or latissimus dorsi, powerful pulling muscles in your back.
To work your lats with the ThighMaster, tuck the resistance spring under your left armpit. One handle should point straight down along the side of your body. The other should stick straight out from your side. Place your left upper arm on this protruding handle and squeeze it down toward the other handle, against your body. Slowly release back to the starting position against the spring's resistance. Do a full set of repetitions with your left arm before switching to the right.
Shoulders
You can use the ThighMaster to roughly simulate the action of a shoulder, working your shoulders and upper trapezius muscles. A normal shoulder press would work your triceps, too, but since you're not straightening your arms in this version of the exercise, the ThighMaster doesn't target the triceps.
To work your shoulders with the ThighMaster, grasp one handle in each hand and place the ThighMaster behind your head, resistance spring pointing down. Adjust your grip, if necessary, so that your palms face forward, knuckles pointing in. Keep the ThighMaster as close to your back as possible as you press your hands together behind your head, then slowly release them against the ThighMaster spring's resistance.
Inner Thighs
Any list of ThighMaster exercises would be terribly remiss if it didn't mention the original ThighMaster exercise. To tone your hip adductors, the muscles in your inner thighs, sit down on the forward edge of a chair and place both handles between your knees, resistance spring pointing down. Hold the handles steady against your legs as you squeeze your knees together, then slowly release against the spring's resistance.
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