Exercise Profile
- Target Muscle Group
- Exercise TypeStrength
- Equipment RequiredOther
- MechanicsIsolation
- Force TypeHinge (Bilateral)
- Experience LevelIntermediate
- Secondary Muscles
Hamstrings, Lower Back
Target Muscle Group
Glutes
Weighted Hyperextension Overview
The weighted hyperextension is a weighted variation of the hyperextension used to target the glute muscles.
Some may think the hyperextension is a lower back exercise, however, for most individuals it is better if they focus on using the movement to target the glutes. The weighted hyperextension is a great way to progress the hyperextension to ensure continued muscle growth.
Weighted Hyperextension Instructions
- Setup in a hyperextension machine with your feet anchored and torso roughly perpendicular to your legs at a 45 degree angle.
- Begin in a hinged position, hold a plate to your chest with your arms crossed, and initiate the movement by flexing your glutes.
- Extend the hips and finish with your body in a straight line.
- Repeat for the desired number of repetitions.
Weighted Hyperextension Tips
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Keep in mind that there are two ways to do hyperextensions. For the vast majority of folks (outside of a sport specific application - ex. Gymnastics or Olympic weight lifting), they stick with the first rather than the second option.
- Glutecentric: Slightly flex your upper back and extend your hips until your body is in a straight line and focus entirely on gluteal activation.
- Erector-centric: Arch globally through the spine and focus entirely on erector activation.
- If you can’t seem to feel your glutes activating, palpate the musculature with your hands and focus on pausing the movement at the peak of contraction.
- If you find one glute has less contractility than another, perform twice as much volume on that side relative to the other with unilateral variations until you have established an efficient mind/muscle connection.
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