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Butt Muscles, Hip Muscles
Largest, Strongest in the Body
The butt muscles and hip muscles are a fundamental part of our lower bodies. The hips are designed for mobility and the butt muscles are the strongest muscles in our body.
Our hips are balanced on top of each thigh bone (femur) and supports our spine. Our hips being designed with an "arch" is what allows the hips to shift the weight of our body on to the thigh bones.
To avoid injury we want to make sure that our hips are as strong as possible. Include stretching and other exercises to keep them strong and give them the fullest range of motion that our hips are designed for.
There are four groups of muscles surrounding the hips that control the hips movements:
- Hip Adductors - this is the inner thigh muscles. The main action of these muscles is to pull the leg inward towards the other leg and across the centerline of the body. If your thighs are rubbing together, this is the area of concern. Although you can't spot reduce, you would need to lose overall body fat to reduce the rubbing in this area. You can also perform inner thigh exercises to tone your inner thigh.
- Hip Abductors - this is the outer thigh muscles. The main action of these muscles is to move the leg away from the body. It's also responsible for stabilization and carry out the external rotation of the hips. This is the muscle you want to "build" in order to show off curvier hips. It can be difficult but it's not impossible.
- Hip Flexors - these are the muscles at the front of the hips. Your hip flexors are a group of muscles that are used to bring your legs and torso together in a bending movement. These muscles help with movements during several ab exercises and they resist the movement of the hip extensors. If these muscles are tight it can hinder daily activities AND prevent you from building a firm, toned butt.
- Hip Extensors - these are the muscles at the back of the hips (mainly glutes and hamstrings). These muscles have the ability to generate a huge amount of force, like for jumping. These muscles help the body move up or forward. Tighten up this muscle to help smooth away the appearance of cellulite.
- Gluteal Muscles - There are 3 muscles that make up your butt. The gluteus maximus muscle, gluteus medius muscle and gluteus minimus muscle. The gluteus maximus is that largest butt muscle and also one of the strongest muscles in your body. The main function of the glutes is to extend the trunk and rotating the hips sideways.
You'll want to work the entire hip and butt area to ensure a nice, round, shapely butt. Also, since the butt muscles is the strongest muscle in
your body, keeping it strong is important to help prevent lower back pain.
Don't forget to STRETCH your hip muscles! It has a lot to do with building your ass and hips!
Return from Butt and Hip Muscles to Muscle Anatomy
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Other Muscles of the Body:
Neck |
Back |
Chest |
Shoulders |
Arms |
Abdominals |
Legs
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