In life, we always look and move forward. In our exercise regime, however, movements should be in all directions in order to attain a balanced body.
Fitness experts believe lateral exercises are just as important as sagittal (forward or backward) ones. Here is why.
Preventing injury
Focusing on forward movements means the same dominant muscle groups get regularly built up while smaller muscles remain constant in size. This leads to muscle and strength imbalance, which directly affects the way we stabilize our body and prevent injury.1
Spicing up your workout
Adding lateral exercises to your fitness routine can instantly make your workout less stale and boring. In other words, incorporating lateral movements helps make it more likely that you will stick to your workout.2
Here’s a couple of lateral exercises for you to try.
Lateral bear crawl3
- Start on all fours. Wrists under shoulders. Knees under hips.
- Lift knees by few inches. Engage core.
- Move one hand and opposite leg to one side. Shift body weight. Continue in same direction with other hand and opposite leg.
- Crawl as far as space allows. Switch directions.
Side plank with leg lift4
- Lie on right side. Prop yourself up with right elbow directly under right shoulder. Stack left foot on right foot. Body should form straight line from left foot to left shoulder.
- Engage core. Lift left leg up just above left hip. Keep waist up.
- Lower left leg.
- Switch sides.
Revamp your fitness routine now with some lateral exercises and feel the difference!
Sources
- https://www.shape.com/fitness/tips/why-you-need-lateral-exercises-benefits-workouts. Viewed on 09 Oct 2018.
- https://www.shape.com/fitness/tips/why-you-need-lateral-exercises-benefits-workouts. Viewed on 09 Oct 2018.
- https://homegym-exercises.com/lateral_bear_crawl.html. Viewed on 09 Oct 2018.
- https://www.popsugar.com/fitness/Side-Plank-Leg-Lift-2385791. Viewed on 09 Oct 2018.
© Cigna Healthcare 2023
Information provided in this article is intended for health and fitness purposes only and is not intended for use in the diagnosis of disease or other conditions, or in the cure, mitigation, treatment or prevention of disease (see Terms & Conditions for details). Any health-related information found in this article is available only for your interest and should not be treated as medical advice. Users should seek any medical advice from a physician, especially before self-diagnosing any ailment or embarking on any new lifestyle or exercise regime. Any information contained in this article may not be suitable, accurate, complete or reliable. Cigna Healthcare accepts no responsibility for the content or accuracy of information contained on external websites or resources, or for the security and safety of using them. "Cigna Healthcare" and the "Tree of Life" logo are registered trademarks of Cigna Intellectual Property, Inc. in the United States and elsewhere, licensed for use. All products and services are provided by or through operating subsidiaries, and not by The Cigna Group.
