Side Leg Raises
A beginner strength movement that trains the adductors with just bodyweight.
Force Type
Pull
general
Difficulty
Beginner
strength
Variations
0
equipment swaps
Muscles
1
primary + secondary
The verdict
Side Leg Raises has 3-step instructions, documented to a similar depth as most of the 13 adductors exercises PlainExercise catalogues.
Ranked against the 13 adductors exercises PlainExercise currently catalogues, not the full exercise-science literature.
Catalog lens
Two ways this record sits in the source corpus
These are placement measures for the documented record, not a score for exercise quality, safety, or suitability.
Instruction steps
#741 of 868
3 numbered source steps; the longest instruction list ranks #1.
Instruction text
#768 of 868
A separate character-length placement prevents step count from standing in for explanatory detail.
Side Leg Raises is a beginner strength movement that trains the Adductors. It requires just bodyweight. There are 0 known variations and 8 peer exercises that target the same primary muscle.
- 1 of 9 exercises targeting the Adductors
- Level: beginner
PlainExercise cross-links 0 variations and 8 peer exercises sharing the same primary muscle.
What the Side Leg Raises Data Reveals · DOC · PULL/PATTERN
Side Leg Raises opens on force profile: a PULL pattern pattern for adductors on just bodyweight, force direction is the first filter on this floor-level record.
3 steps sit in the lower third (< 4), a thin upstream record where taxonomy badges carry most of the page identity.
Side Leg Raises is classified as a beginner-level strength movement with a pull force profile, primarily training the Adductors. The canonical form requires just bodyweight in the stretching category. Within the adductors cohort, 9 catalogued movements share the primary target; no alternate-equipment variations are catalogued yet.
Context matters: taxonomy (level, mechanic, force, musculature, equipment) does not account for individual biomechanics, joint history, or recovery. Common-mistake framing below is derived from classification fields, not case-specific coaching. Not medical or personal-training advice. Consult a physician or certified trainer before starting, especially with injuries, cardiovascular conditions, recent surgery, or pregnancy.
Exercise profile
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | beginner |
| Mechanic | - |
| Force | pull |
| Equipment | body only |
| Category | stretching |
| Primary muscle | Adductors |
| Secondary muscles | 0 |
| Variations available | 0 |
Source: Free Exercise DB (CC0); profile derived per exercise record.
Side Leg Raises catalog footprint
Among 13 exercises whose primary muscle is adductors, Side Leg Raises ranks #1 by catalogued variation count (0 listed heres). The upstream file attaches 2 images to this slug. See the step-count ranking for adductors for peer documentation depth.
Muscles worked
According to the Free Exercise DB classification, Side Leg Raises trains the adductors as the prime mover and no catalogued secondary muscles. The source classifies muscles as primary or secondary, it does not measure activation, so we show involvement, not percentages.
Source: Free Exercise DB primary/secondary muscle classification. Involvement, not measured activation, actual recruitment varies by load and form.
Intensity context
For reference, here is where common activities sit on the MET intensity scale. Side Leg Raises does not have a measured MET in the source data, its intensity depends on the load and effort you use. Estimate calories for any activity with the calorie calculator.
MET values from the Compendium of Physical Activities (Ainsworth et al., 2011). A general reference scale, not a rating of this specific movement.
How to do it
- Stand next to a chair, which you may hold onto as a support. Stand on one leg. This will be your starting position.
- Keeping your leg straight, raise it as far out to the side as possible, and swing it back down, allowing it to cross the opposite leg.
- Repeat this swinging motion 5-10 times, increasing the range of motion as you do so.
Common mistakes
- Rushing through reps before the pattern is grooved - at this stage, a slow, controlled tempo (2-3s down, 1-2s up) on Side Leg Raises teaches the nervous system the movement far faster than speed does.
- Cutting the range of motion short - moving the adductors through its full safe range on Side Leg Raises is what most reliably separates effective reps from wasted ones.
- Using momentum instead of muscle, isolation movements like Side Leg Raises reward strict form. If you're swinging the weight, it's too heavy.
- Shrugging the shoulders up toward the ears on pull movements, keep shoulder blades down and back to load the correct muscles.
- Breathing out of sync with the lift on Side Leg Raises - brace and inhale during the lowering phase, exhale on the exertion, especially important with just bodyweight where control matters most.
Who this is for
- People new to resistance training who want to build a foundation in the movement pattern
- People who want to train the Adductors
- People training at home without equipment
Who this is NOT for
- People hunting equipment swaps, PlainExercise lists 0 catalogued variations for Side Leg Raises; browse 8 peer adductors exercises for alternate patterns instead.
- Anyone with acute pain in the joints or muscles involved, pain is a stop signal, not a soreness signal
- People with unresolved injuries in the loaded joints, seek clearance from a physical therapist first
- Anyone with a recent surgery, cardiovascular limitation, or pregnancy complication without physician clearance
Progression path
Once Side Leg Raises feels comfortable with your current load, progress by (a) adding reps until you can complete 12+ per set, (b) increasing resistance by 2.5-5%, (c) moving to harder variations such as single-limb or longer lever versions, and eventually (d) stepping up to intermediate-level movements that train the same muscle.
See the Progression guide for a full framework on when to advance, and the Compound vs Isolation guide to decide when to prioritize this movement in your program.
Safety notes · BODY-ONLY · PULL/PATTERN · FLOOR
- On PULL/PATTERN adductors work, warm up 5–10 minutes before loading Side Leg Raises; keep first sets light until the path feels automatic.
- Sharp or joint pain is a stop signal. Muscle soreness during sets is normal; pain is not.
- Beginners on BODY-ONLY gear: cut volume before cutting form, drop a set rather than rush reps.
- General information only. Consult a physician or certified trainer before starting any new exercise program.
Nationwide exercises with similar documentation depth
Two Free Exercise DB peer sets for Side Leg Raises, drawn across all muscles (not the adductors-only related list below). Each metric produces a different neighborhood.
Similar instruction step count
Nearest catalog records by numbered steps (3 here).
Similar instruction text length
Nearest catalog records by upstream instruction characters (343 here).
Related exercises
Other exercises that target the Adductors.
See all Adductors exercises.
Using the side leg raises
A beginner strength movement for the adductors - here's how to put it to work.
- Train the adductors 2–3 times a week with 48+ hours between hard sets; pair this with other adductors movements for balanced development. All adductors exercises
- Match the load and rep range to your goal, strength, size, or endurance each call for a different scheme. Strength vs hypertrophy
- As an isolation movement, use it to target the adductors directly after your compound lifts. Compound vs isolation
Form before load. If a movement causes sharp or joint pain, stop and substitute a safer alternative, this is general information, not medical or training advice.