How To Lunge Properly: Make The Most Of This Exercise

As you go about your workout program, one exercise that you definitely want to be sure you’re adding into the mix is the lunge. Lunges are a fantastic lower body strength builder and will also offer clear toning benefits as well.
Best of all, since they’re going to work so many different muscle groups all at once, they’re going to be top-notch for increasing your metabolic rate so that you can continue to tone your backside all day long after the session is completed.
That said, many people unfortunately are not lunging properly as they go about their program and this can lead to injury and a lack of results.
Let’s have a quick peak at how to lunge properly so that you can be sure you’re making the most out of this exercise.
Choose Your Form Of Lunge
The very first thing that you need to do is choose the type of lunge that you want to perform. Will you be doing stationary lunges? Perhaps you’d like to do walking lunges? Or maybe you’re looking for something really advanced and challenging and decide to do back lunges instead.
It’s important that you do consider the few variations of lunges that can be performed as this will help to constantly be supplying a stimulus on the body and ensure that you never hit a progress plateau.
Keep The Head Up
The second thing that you must do as you get ready to lunge is keep the head up at all times. Keeping your head up and not looking downwards is going to help keep the spinal column in better alignment and this is very important for preventing lower back pain as you go through the exercise.
Make sure that you look directly in front of you as well, as this will enable you to maintain your balance the entire time through the exercise.
Squeeze The Abs
Another great way to make sure that you’re maintaining the right position as you go about the lunge is to think of squeezing the abs.
If you squeeze the core as you go through this exercise, you’re going to immediately shift the hips upwards, preventing a lower back sway that could become dangerous.
In addition to that, a tense core will also help for stabilization purposes, so you’re less likely to falter in your stepping pattern.
Watch Your Foot Placement
Finally, the last must-do if you want to lunge correctly and make sure you keep injuries at bay is to watch your foot placement.
Make sure that you are placing the foot directly in front of the toes and not too far off to the side as this will ensure that the knee’s tracking properly and you don’t end up experiencing knee pain as you go throughout the exercise.
Also make sure that you’re not stepping too far ahead of the body as that can place excess stress on the hip flexors as well.
So there you have the key tips to note to ensure you’re lunging properly. Have a current look at your position and see if there are some changes you need to be making.