Barbell Hip Thrust vs Side Kick Back
Maximizing Your Leg Workout Plan
Contents
Side Kick Back is the easier place to start — difficulty 1 of 5 vs 4. Compare Leg form cues and when to progress.
Customize Your Leg Workout: Explore the Benefits of Barbell Hip Thrust and Side Kick Back for Better Comparison.
Planfit Users' Choice about Barbell Hip Thrust vs Side Kick Back : Which is Better?
Based on randomly selected data from 1 million completed workouts, Planfit users log Barbell Hip Thrust more often — 1,544 sessions compared to 822 for Side Kick Back.
Popularity is not the whole answer. Barbell Hip Thrust and Side Kick Back differ in the muscles they load, the equipment they need, and how hard they are to learn — the comparison below covers each.
How Barbell Hip Thrust and Side Kick Back Differ
| What differs | Barbell Hip Thrust | Side Kick Back |
|---|---|---|
| Muscles worked | glutes, quads, and hamstrings | outer thighs |
| Equipment | a barbell | bodyweight only |
| One side at a time | No | Yes |
| Difficulty | 4 of 5 | 1 of 5 |
| Sessions logged by Planfit users | 1,544 sessions | 822 sessions |
How to Barbell Hip Thrust
Barbell Hip Thrust muscles worked: Leg
Form
- 1. Raise your pelvis until your shins are vertical and your body is parallel to the ground.
- 2. Return to the starting position while resisting the weight.
Coach's Comment
- 1. If you just lift the barbell, it may hurt, so please wrap it with a squat pad, towel, etc.
- 2. Please be careful not to let your knees come together.
- 3. Please be careful not to tilt your head back.
- 4. Keep your chest up and engage your core to avoid bending your back.
If you want to know a detailed guide to Barbell Hip Thrust, alternative exercises, and its benefits, check it out here. Check out the Barbell Hip Thrust Guide page of our blog!
How to Side Kick Back
Side Kick Back muscles worked: Leg
Form
- 1. Raise one leg while keeping the knee at a 90-degree angle, parallel to the ground.
- 2. Slowly return to the starting position.
- 3. Proceed one side at a time or alternately.
Coach's Comment
- 1. Keep your chest up to avoid bending your waist and engage your core.
- 2. Be careful not to bend your elbows.
If you want to know a detailed guide to Side Kick Back, alternative exercises, and its benefits, check it out here. Check out the Side Kick Back Guide page of our blog!
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is better for Leg, Barbell Hip Thrust or Side Kick Back?
Neither is clearly ahead — Planfit users log both at a similar rate. They both train Leg, so the choice comes down to the equipment you have and the muscles you want to load.
Do Barbell Hip Thrust and Side Kick Back work the same muscles?
Not quite. Barbell Hip Thrust loads glutes, quads, and hamstrings, and Side Kick Back loads outer thighs.
What equipment do Barbell Hip Thrust and Side Kick Back need?
Barbell Hip Thrust needs a barbell, and Side Kick Back needs bodyweight only.
Which is easier to start with?
Side Kick Back is the easier place to start. Move to Barbell Hip Thrust once your form holds up.
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