What are the best glute rehab exercises?

Being a relatively new therapist, I have found myself guilty of prescribing glute exercises that I saw on social media or because someone told me it was a “glute burner”. That sometimes didn’t settle well with me because as much as I was told it was a “glute exercise”, was it really? This article helped give me some confidence and justification of my glute exercise prescription, knowing that they are good glute exercises and are supported by research.

Reiman et al. (2011) did a lit review looking at glute max and glute med activation during common rehab exercises. Here is a list of the exercises from his paper for each of these muscle, in order of moderate activation, high activation and very high activation:

Glute Max

Moderate Activation (Low to High)

1. Sidelying Hip Abduction
2. Lunge with forward trunk lean
3. Glute bridge
4. Clam @ 30^ohip flexion
5. Lunge with neutral trunk lean
6. Clam @ 60^ohip flexion
7. Single leg bridge

High Activation (Low to High)

1. Lateral lunge
2. Lateral step up
3. Transverse lunge
4. Bird dog
5. Single leg mini squat
6. Wall squat
7. Single leg squat
8. Single leg deadlift

Very High

1. Step up

Glute Med

Moderate Activation (Low to High)

1. Glute bridge
2. Lunge with neutral trunk
3. Single leg mini squat
4. Retro step up
5. Clam @ 60^ohip flexion
6. Lateral lunge
7. Clam @ 30^ohip flexion

High Activation (Low to High)

1. Step up
2. Bid dog
3. Lateral step up
4. Transverse step up
5. Wall squat
6. Sidelying hip abduction
7. Pelvic drop
8. Single leg deadlift

Very High

1. Single leg squat
2. Side bridge

One thing I found interesting while compiling this list is that the exercises almost fall into a progression list as well (I said “almost”). You can start with the moderate activation exercises as low level muscle activation and progress to the high activation exercises which are generally more difficult and more functional. And if your clients are really good, you can progress to the very high activation exercises as the advanced rehab exercises. 

Share your thoughts on these exercises in the comments or share some of your other favorites that you’ve had success with.