LOWER BODY MOVEMENTS

In our Strength Training System, most exercises that are being considered for a specific program will be placed into one of three general movement categories. Lower Body Movements involve the following movements: knee extension, hip extension, and plantar flexion. Lower Body Movements are those that will help increase strength in the lower back, quadriceps, hamstrings, gluteus muscle group, hip extensors, flexors, adductors, abductors, and the muscles of the lower leg (calf and ankle). Bilateral Movements are prominent within the program, but we also utilize a lot of unilateral variations which are more sports specific and help reduce stress placed on the body during training.

FORWARD LUNGE EXERCISES

Forward Lunges are a unilateral lower body movement variation important in teaching and strengthening proper load mechanics for deceleration. This is a more quad dominant movement pattern which also mimics a movement pattern specific for skating.

Dumbbell Lunge Walks

• Begin from a standing athletic position, feet hip width apart facing forward.
• Hold two dumbbells on either side, palms facing in
• Lunge forward at a distance that produces 90° joint angles at the hip, knee and ankle when the back knee touches the floor.
• Do not allow the forward knee to lean in. Your thigh, knee, foot and ankle should all remain inline, pointing straight ahead.
• From the bottom position, push hard with mid foot to standing position before lunging forward again with the opposite foot.
• Maintain a spine neutral upright torso throughout the movement pattern.
• Notice your torso is leaning slightly forward and at the same angle with the rear thigh and front shin. I like to see the front knee slightly forward of the ankle because it matches proper skating mechanics
• Alternate legs for number of reps prescribed.