Science-Based Exercises for the Glutes (No Hip Thrusts) | BOXROX (2024)

This is how you should train your glutes. If you think one of the must-have exercises for that is the hip thrust, you are mistaken. Check out these science-based exercises for the glutes that do not include hip thrusts.

DrMike Israetel, PhD in Sport Physiology and co-founder ofRenaissance Periodization, is a well-respected professor in the bodybuilding community. You cannot go wrong when listening to him, so check below his list of science-based exercises for the glutes.

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Science-Based Exercises for the Glutes (No Hip Thrusts)

Mike Israetel, a fitness expert and coach, leads a workout session with a guest, a fellow fitness enthusiast and IFBB bikini pro named Laura Stalinkeviciute. In the video, Mike guides Laura through a series of exercises, providing instructions, cues, and encouragement throughout the session.

At the beginning of the video, Mike pushes Laura to do her best, reminding her that she wanted to be on the channel. He lightens the atmosphere by joking that it’s okay to cry on camera, as others have done before.

Mike introduces various exercises, such as front-foot-elevated lunges, deadlifts, and Romanian deadlifts (RDLs). He offers cues and techniques to ensure proper form and effectiveness. They perform sets of exercises with an emphasis on slow and controlled movements, engaging different muscle groups and targeting hamstrings, glutes, and quads.

The video captures moments of exertion, occasional playful interactions, and the shared experience of pushing through challenging exercises. Mike’s coaching style includes both technical guidance and motivational remarks, which Laura responds to with effort and determination.

Science-Based Exercises for the Glutes (No Hip Thrusts) | BOXROX (1)

Towards the end of the session, Mike introduces a set of squats, encouraging Laura to perform as many reps as possible while maintaining good form. The exchange between them showcases Mike’s coaching approach and Laura’s dedication to pushing her limits.

As the session concludes, Laura expresses feelings of satisfaction and pump in her muscles, despite the challenging workout. The video ends with a brief conversation about where viewers can find Laura’s content on Instagram and YouTube, along with playful banter between Mike and Laura.

In a nutshell, the science-based exercises for the glutes without including hip thrusts are:

  • Foot-elevated lunge on the Smith machine
  • Deficit deadlift
  • Stiff-legged deadlift
  • Squat drop set Renassaince Periodization style

Throughout the video, the dynamic between Mike and Laura demonstrates a mix of humour, camaraderie, and fitness-focused dedication.

Watch the full video below for all the information, reps and sets recommended too.

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Why Should You Exercise Your Glutes

Simply because every muscle group should get the attention it deserves. But let’s not get ahead of ourselves. To understand the importance of a strong butt, you need to learn what muscles you have on your behind.

The gluteal muscles are often referred to as glutes, which are a group of three muscles that make up your buttocks. They are the gluteus maximus, gluteus medius, and gluteus minimus.

The glutes are connected to your pelvis to the top of your femur (thigh bone), which is connected to the side of your knee. The main purpose of the glutes is to help hip extension, lateral rotation, abduction of the leg and provide support during single-leg positions.

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Strong glutes will:

  • Help prevent injuries – by protecting your pelvis with strong glutes, you can prevent the famous lower back pain. It will also lower the chances of you having a knee injury.
  • Help you run faster – your glutes and hamstrings are a major role in the power of a stride while running. Hip extension is the act of moving your leg backwards after it hits the ground and the glutes are responsible for hip extension.
  • Make you fitter generally speaking – not only you will run faster, but also jump higher, and squat deeper and heavier loads.
  • Help you lose weight and increase your metabolism – the gluteus maximus is the largest muscle in the body and one of the strongest as well. Strengthening your glutes will increase your metabolism and help you burn more calories since it’s a large muscle group that requires energy to function.

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Science-Based Exercises for the Glutes (No Hip Thrusts) | BOXROX (2024)

FAQs

Science-Based Exercises for the Glutes (No Hip Thrusts) | BOXROX? ›

Ah, the hex bar deadlift. This technique, known as the trap bar deadlift to some, requires activation from your posterior chain and can help build strength, size, and power in your gluteal muscles, hamstrings, and lower back without hip thrusts and while protecting your lower back.

Can I grow glutes without hip thrusts? ›

Ah, the hex bar deadlift. This technique, known as the trap bar deadlift to some, requires activation from your posterior chain and can help build strength, size, and power in your gluteal muscles, hamstrings, and lower back without hip thrusts and while protecting your lower back.

What are the best glute exercises not hip thrust? ›

11 Best Hip Thrust Alternatives
  • Barbell Back Squat.
  • Cable Pull-Through.
  • Step-Up.
  • Sumo Deadlift.
  • Split-Stance Romanian Deadlift.
  • Bulgarian Split Squat.
  • Kettlebell Swing.
  • Single-Leg Glute Bridge.
Apr 23, 2024

How do you activate glutes without hips? ›

Some of the best exercises for glute activation include the following:
  1. Full Extension Step-Up.
  2. Resistance Band Kickbacks.
  3. Wall Single-Leg Glute Bridges.
  4. Hip Drop and Lift.
  5. Toe Stab Hip Raises.
  6. Toe Up Hip Raises.
  7. Toe Down Hip Swings.
  8. Toe Up Hip Swings.
Jun 29, 2023

What is better than hip thrusts? ›

Romanian Deadlifts

Another effective hip thrust alternative is the Romanian Deadlift (RDL). This exercise targets the posterior chain, engaging the glutes, hamstrings, and lower back.

Do you really need hip thrusts? ›

Hip thrust is a perfect choice! as it strengthens the muscles in the hip, buttocks, and quadriceps. It helps stabilize the pelvis, lower back, and knees, making it ideal for targeting low bone density in the hips and femur bones, aligning the knee joints, and promoting strong glutes and better balance.

What exercise has the highest glute activation? ›

In general, the step-up exercise and its variations present the highest levels of GMax activation (>100% of MVIC) followed by several loaded exercises and its variations, such as deadlifts, hip thrusts, lunges, and squats, that presented a very high level of GMax activation (>60% of 1RM).

How to activate lazy glutes? ›

Lie down on your left side with your left forearm resting on the floor. Bend both of your knees in front of you. With your feet glued together, keep the bottom leg on the floor while lifting the top into the air, opening your hips. This should activate your right glute.

What is deep gluteal syndrome? ›

Deep gluteal syndrome (DGS) is an underdiagnosed entity characterized by pain and/or dysesthesias in the buttock area, hip or posterior thigh and/or radicular pain due to a non-discogenic sciatic nerve entrapment in the subgluteal space.

What are scientifically the best glute exercises? ›

If you want to build stronger and more performance-driven glutes, I'd recommend the following for a well-rounded routine:
  • Barbell Hip Thrust.
  • Step Up.
  • Reverse Hyper.
  • Romanian Deadlift.
  • Curtsy Lunge.
  • Sprinter Position Dumbbell Bulgarian Split Squats.
  • Single-Leg Hip Thrust.
  • Dumbbell Frog Press.

What is the number one exercise for the buttocks? ›

The step-up is one of the best glute exercises you can do to focus on strength, power, and balance in a unilateral fashion (aka one side at a time), says Declan Condron, an exercise physiologist. "We all perform this basic functional movement many times a day, every day," says Condron.

Are hip thrusts essential for glute growth? ›

Quite simply put, the hip thrust is a great exercise for building strength and muscle in your lower body, especially your glutes. If you're doing the hip thrust correctly, it primarily targets your gluteus maximus, as well as your hamstrings (the leg muscles behind your thighs) to a lesser extent.

Can you grow your glutes naturally? ›

Exercise is the key to getting a bigger butt. To get the best results, it's important to focus on exercises that target the glute muscles, such as squats and hip extensions. These exercises will not only help you build muscle in your glutes, but they'll also help you burn fat in other areas of your body.

Is it possible to grow your glutes without growing your thighs? ›

Growing glutes without growing the legs? Yes, you can. To grow that perfectly round, toned butt without growing your legs, you should add exercises to your workout program that activate your glutes as much as possible while activating your legs as little as possible.

Is it possible to grow glutes without weights? ›

Experts say you can build a bigger, stronger butt by doing variations of exercises like squats. You don't necessarily need weights, either — body weight movements like donkey kicks work, too. To build glute muscles without equipment, focus on increasing muscle tension and effort with good form.

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