How to Do Hip Circles (prone)
Start and end of one clean rep of Hip Circles (prone).
Quick facts
| Primary muscle | Glutes |
|---|---|
| Secondary muscles | Quads |
| Equipment | Bodyweight |
| Category | Stretching |
How to perform Hip Circles (prone)
- Position yourself on your hands and knees on the ground. Maintaining good posture, raise one bent knee off of the ground. This will be your starting position.
- Keeping the knee in a bent position, rotate the femur in an arc, attempting to make a big circle with your knee.
- Perform this slowly for a number of repetitions, and repeat on the other side.
Muscles worked
- Glutes (primary): extends and stabilises the hip — the engine behind hinges, squats and sprints.
- Quads (secondary): extends the knee to drive squats, lunges and jumps.
Sets & reps by goal
| Goal | Sets × reps | Load | Rest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Strength | 3–5 × 3–5 | Heavy (~85%+) | 2–3 min |
| Hypertrophy | 3–4 × 8–12 | Moderate (~65–75%) | 60–90 s |
| Endurance | 2–3 × 15–20 | Lighter (~50–60%) | 30–45 s |
As a mobility drill, hold each position for 20–40 seconds (or move slowly for reps) rather than training it to a heavy load.
Form tips
- Finish each rep by squeezing the glutes and standing fully tall, without over-arching the back.
- Own the largest range you can control with clean form before you chase extra reps.
- Ease in until you feel mild tension, never pain, and breathe out as you sink a little deeper.
- Stop a rep or two short of failure on most sets to keep form clean and recover faster.
Common mistakes
- Turning a hip hinge into a squat and losing the stretch on the glutes.
- Cutting the range short to squeeze out extra reps instead of owning each full one.
- Bouncing into the stretch instead of holding it steadily.
Frequently asked questions
What muscles does Hip Circles (prone) work?
Hip Circles (prone) mainly works the glutes, with the quads helping as secondary movers.
What equipment do I need for Hip Circles (prone)?
None — Hip Circles (prone) is a bodyweight movement, so you only need your bodyweight and a little space.
How many sets and reps should I do for Hip Circles (prone)?
It depends on your goal: about 3–5 sets of 3–5 heavy reps for strength, 3–4 sets of 8–12 for muscle growth, or 2–3 sets of 15–20 for endurance. As a mobility drill, hold each position for 20–40 seconds (or move slowly for reps) rather than training it to a heavy load.
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