I have a question about lunges and how to do them with limited space.
I bring my right foot forward and move downward then bring myself back up but do I bring my left leg forward then turn around and repeat.
or
Instead of bringing my left leg forward could I simply keep moving up and down in the position I’m in?
or
Do I return to my original spot returning my right leg back to the starting position and repeat.
Thanks
The first option sounds like some sort of walking lunge. The second one is a split squat. The last one is your basic lunge. It’s generally a good idea to rotate between different the different types. If your space is limited, do what works. The most important thing is that you drop down far enough.
All 3 of those options are really different exercises. The second one is called a static lunge. The third one is what I consider to be a regular lunge and the first is more like a walking lunge. Just pick one and stick with it for a cycle or 2.
Everyone is right so far…There are a dozen variations of lunges and some of them even have more than one name. Check out:
UWLAX Video Index
http://www.uwlax.edu/strengthcenter/videos/video_index.htm
Backward Step Lunge
Barbell Step Lunge
Backwards Lunge
Split Squat
Barbell Stationary Lunge
Stepping Split Squat
Sweet links Modi. I like how the videos show a few reps being done. Really clears things up for me.
In the step up video I notice the guy never takes his working leg off the chair. I thought step ups required you to bring yourself up then back down?
Barbell Stationary Lunge video - That guy looks like hes on the way to hurting himself doing them like that?
[quote]walrus wrote:
Sweet links Modi. I like how the videos show a few reps being done. Really clears things up for me.
In the step up video I notice the guy never takes his working leg off the chair. I thought step ups required you to bring yourself up then back down?
Barbell Stationary Lunge video - That guy looks like hes on the way to hurting himself doing them like that?[/quote]
That link is from the Are You a Beginner II thread.
Again, there are several variations of step ups. I call what he does in the video a step down. If I bring my lead leg down, I call it a step up. It really doesn’t matter, I just do it so I can look back at my program and know exactly what I was doing at that time.
As far as the Barbell Stationary Lunge goes, I choose to do the Split Squat instead. I don’t feel like the added stress of the patella traveling that far over the foot is worth the risk.
It’s a good reference for a lot of exercises, some are just higher risk than others. Could probably do without the 70’s porn music though.
A little off the topic, but not. Which ever way you decide to do your lunges, try adding either a front shoulder raise with the dumb bells or a shoulder press. As you lift your body up from the lunge, lift the weights with your arms.
[quote]TWalton wrote:
A little off the topic, but not. Which ever way you decide to do your lunges, try adding either a front shoulder raise with the dumb bells or a shoulder press. As you lift your body up from the lunge, lift the weights with your arms.
[/quote]
I suppose you could, if you are doing a full body routine, but if you are doing a split you are better off doing lunges on leg day and shoulders on shoulder day. Even with a full body routine, I would try to hit my heavy compound shoulder movement before I pre-fatigued my shoulders with front raises or light DB presses. Just my $.02