The side lunge is an extremely important exercise for improving knee and ankle stability as well as increasing glute strength. It is often overlooked as an exercise, because it involves moving laterally (side to side) and most people focus on front to back or up and down.
In other words, when people think of lower body exercises, they think of the squat, dead lift and lunge. But these do not take into account that the body also moves in other ranges of motion that are also important (i.e. side to side).
First of all, it is important to understand that most knee injuries and ankle sprains occur when the body moves eccentrically and laterally. That means that your legs are moving to the side and trying to brake. Unfortunately, the muscles may not be strong enough to stabilize the braking motion and tear or sprain.
In fact, up to 70% of ACL (Anterior Cruciate Ligament) injuries to the knee are non-contact. And we also know that the #1 most common sports related injury is a sprained ankle. So, improving stability and strength in the knees and ankles is a vitally important step to protecting yourself from injury.
One of my favorite exercise choices for this task is the side lunge. I hardly ever see anyone doing it, but incorporating this into your routine will really help your overall movement and reduce your risk of injury. So, let’s take a look at the classic side lunge. Of course, there are lots of great variations on this exercise, but first start with the basics and then you can always advance it.
Side Lunge Exercise
1. Stand tall and make sure your feet are pointed straight ahead. (I always tell people to look at the outside of their feet not the inside, when pointing their feet straight). It may feel a little awkward at first, but you will get the hang of it quickly.
2. While under control, move one leg out to the side (about 2-3 feet). As that foot lands, let the knee bend, but keep the other leg straight.
3. Make sure the foot that steps to the side lands straight. Do not let that foot angle out to the side.
3. Sink the butt back and down as the knee bends. Do not let the knee extend over the toes. Imagine sitting back into a chair. In fact, when I first teach people this exercise, I usually have a chair or bench behind them so they can sit if desired, to get the feel of it.
4. You can use your arms as a counterweight and bring them out in front of you. If you are using weights, keep them in front of you and let your arms hang straight down, as seen in the image.
5. Now, push off from the leg that stepped out to the side and bring it back to the middle, standing tall.
6. Do 8-12 reps per leg.
In the beginning, do not use any weights. Instead, learn the proper form and get good at doing the movement under control. Once you feel comfortable, you can begin adding weight to increase the challenge. Just make sure you sink back and do NOT bend too far forward with your back.
As I mentioned, once you master the basic side lunge, you can begin doing variations that add difficulty and introduce more speed and power. But, simply adding more and more weight and focusing on proper form will also give you great benefits.
Pay once. Get lifetime access.
30 day money back guarantee
15 YEARS. 100K HEALED.
Once I started HEM, the swelling and bruising subsided significantly and on the 4th day, I was walking comfortably again. I was shocked!
– Erikka Fernando
Thank you so much! It’s pretty amazing that I am doing as much as I am after a severe sprained ankle! Thanks for your support!!!
– Laurie Prindle
From the desk of Scott Malin, NASM-CPT
Creator, HEM Ankle Rehab
January 20, 2025
If you want to heal your ankle fully & fast…
And get back to doing what you love PAIN-FREE, without the fear of re-injury…
This will be the most important thing you ever do for yourself.
Here’s why:
My name is Scott Malin and fifteen years ago, I had to give up what I love… playing basketball. It literally crushed me to give it up!!
But, I had sprained my ankles so many times that I could no longer play.
Every time it happened, I used R.I.C.E. (rest, ice elevation, compression), but my ankles took months to heal and just kept getting weaker and more painful.
I tried everything, including ankle braces, but they made my ankles even weaker and then my knees started hurting too!
When I sprained my ankle one last time and had to crawl off the court, I knew I was done.
That night, I sat in my apartment and cried.
I was in my early thirties and thought I had to give up what I loved for the rest of my life.
But, I had no other option…
My ankles were just way too weak, stiff and unstable and painkillers/ice did nothing anymore.
As I lay in bed, staring up at the ceiling, I remembered back to when I trained with a clinician for the National Academy of Sports Medicine and Soft Tissue Therapist for the Los Angeles Clippers.
I also thought about a revolutionary Naturopath that taught me so much about healing the body naturally.
Then, I came up with a crazy idea…
It instantly improved how my ankle felt.
And the more I did it, the better my ankle got.
By day 6, my ankle was 100% pain-free and felt stronger and more stable than BEFORE I got injured.
The best part… I PLAYED BASKETBALL AGAIN, BUT THERE WAS NO PAIN!!
Afterward, I cried again, but they were tears of joy!!
When I told them what I did, my basketball buddies laughed and said I was crazy.
They called me a “dreamer”.
But, I didn’t care.
Because I had nothing to lose and everything to gain.
I threw my ankle braces away.
After months of late nights, early mornings, and lots of trial and error…
I created a complete, at-home healing system with incredibly reliable results:
- Heals new ankle injuries including ANY type and grade of ankle sprain.
- Heals old ankle injuries that never fully healed.
- Heals weak and unstable ankles.
- Even heals most Achilles, calf and foot injuries!
Since I was a fitness trainer, I was able to help all my clients (celebrities and athletes) whenever they got injured (which happened a lot!).
I was even on the news a few times!!!
The response from my clients was so overwhelming that a few of them eventually convinced me to make it available to everyone.
And even though it is incredibly complete, I always wanted to keep it SUPER simple and easy to do.
So, just follow along with me on any device and that’s it!
You get instant access to all the videos, which are short and focused on quickly giving you the information you need.
I will show you the absolute BEST rehab techniques, exercises, stretches, activations, holistic techniques, prehab techniques, etc….
These are techniques you will NOT find online anywhere else.
You will learn the perfect form for everything to get the best possible results.
It has taken many years of incredibly hard and dedicated work, but I am so humbled that over 100,000 people have healed themselves fully and fast with my program.
If you don’t believe me, please, check out all the reviews, including video testimonials, before and after pictures, etc. from people of all ages.
And listen, I know you’re probably still skeptical. That’s totally fair…
That’s why we have a very simple, no hassle, 30 day money back guarantee, so it’s completely risk-free to give it a try right now.
I created this program, because I don’t want others to go through all the pain and misery that I did!!
I don’t want anyone else to give up what they love…
Life is too short!!!
And now, there’s an easy way you can heal yourself and get back to your life.
I wish you all the best and thank you!!
Pay once. Get lifetime access.
30 day money back guarantee
Pay once. Get lifetime access.
30 day money back guarantee
15 YEARS. 100K HEALED.
Once I started HEM, the swelling and bruising subsided significantly and on the 4th day, I was walking comfortably again. I was shocked!
– Erikka Fernando
Thank you so much! It’s pretty amazing that I am doing as much as I am after a severe sprained ankle! Thanks for your support!!!
– Laurie Prindle
From the desk of Scott Malin, NASM-CPT
Creator, HEM Ankle Rehab
January 20, 2025
If you want to heal your ankle fully & fast…
And get back to doing what you love PAIN-FREE, without the fear of re-injury…
This will be the most important thing you ever do for yourself.
Here’s why:
My name is Scott Malin and fifteen years ago, I had to give up what I love… playing basketball. It literally crushed me to give it up!!
But, I had sprained my ankles so many times that I could no longer play.
Every time it happened, I used R.I.C.E. (rest, ice elevation, compression), but my ankles took months to heal and just kept getting weaker and more painful.
I tried everything, including ankle braces, but they made my ankles even weaker and then my knees started hurting too!
When I sprained my ankle one last time and had to crawl off the court, I knew I was done.
That night, I sat in my apartment and cried.
I was in my early thirties and thought I had to give up what I loved for the rest of my life.
But, I had no other option…
My ankles were just way too weak, stiff and unstable and painkillers/ice did nothing anymore.
As I lay in bed, staring up at the ceiling, I remembered back to when I trained with a clinician for the National Academy of Sports Medicine and Soft Tissue Therapist for the Los Angeles Clippers.
I also thought about a revolutionary Naturopath that taught me so much about healing the body naturally.
Then, I came up with a crazy idea…
It instantly improved how my ankle felt.
And the more I did it, the better my ankle got.
By day 6, my ankle was 100% pain-free and felt stronger and more stable than BEFORE I got injured.
The best part… I PLAYED BASKETBALL AGAIN, BUT THERE WAS NO PAIN!!
Afterward, I cried again, but they were tears of joy!!
When I told them what I did, my basketball buddies laughed and said I was crazy.
They called me a “dreamer”.
But, I didn’t care.
Because I had nothing to lose and everything to gain.
I threw my ankle braces away.
After months of late nights, early mornings, and lots of trial and error…
I created a complete, at-home healing system with incredibly reliable results:
- Heals new ankle injuries including ANY type and grade of ankle sprain.
- Heals old ankle injuries that never fully healed.
- Heals weak and unstable ankles.
- Even heals most Achilles, calf and foot injuries!
Since I was a fitness trainer, I was able to help all my clients (celebrities and athletes) whenever they got injured (which happened a lot!).
I was even on the news a few times!!!
The response from my clients was so overwhelming that a few of them eventually convinced me to make it available to everyone.
And even though it is incredibly complete, I always wanted to keep it SUPER simple and easy to do.
So, just follow along with me on any device and that’s it!
You get instant access to all the videos, which are short and focused on quickly giving you the information you need.
I will show you the absolute BEST rehab techniques, exercises, stretches, activations, holistic techniques, prehab techniques, etc….
These are techniques you will NOT find online anywhere else.
You will learn the perfect form for everything to get the best possible results.
It has taken many years of incredibly hard and dedicated work, but I am so humbled that over 100,000 people have healed themselves fully and fast with my program.
If you don’t believe me, please, check out all the reviews, including video testimonials, before and after pictures, etc. from people of all ages.
And listen, I know you’re probably still skeptical. That’s totally fair…
That’s why we have a very simple, no hassle, 30 day money back guarantee, so it’s completely risk-free to give it a try right now.
I created this program, because I don’t want others to go through all the pain and misery that I did!!
I don’t want anyone else to give up what they love…
Life is too short!!!
And now, there’s an easy way you can heal yourself and get back to your life.
I wish you all the best and thank you!!
Pay once. Get lifetime access.
30 day money back guarantee
REAL PEOPLE, REAL RESULTS
Just got your videos for the holistic rehab the other day. It has already helped and I am so grateful as I know Drs want to cut you open and ask questions later. My left ankle is very badly sprained, completely black and purple and swollen half way up my calf. I am an athlete and have zero intentions of being cut on now or in the future! It was a major eversion off a curb and I just want it to get back to normal. Thanks so much for putting this HEM ankle rehab together, it's a godsend! Have a beautiful day.
Warm regards,
Faith Washington BSPharm, RPh, CSCS, CPT
Hey there,
I literally purchased this program about 20 minutes ago, and now having gotten partially through the videos... The content is already blowing my mind and I feel like this will be information I'll carry with me the rest of my life... Thank you for this info! Clearly you are a master of PT.
Hello Mr. Malin,
I want to thank you for this website. In the end of november, I sprained my ankle and my doctor said that there is an avulsion fracture in my ankle(ATFL). I had really hard times after this incident. When I was looking for how to heal fast, I saw your website. I tried to do as much as different exercises that you showed. Now I face some difficulties during my daily life due to my foot but swelling is decreasing everyday thanks to exercises. Especially, the video about how to activate ankle is very beneficial for me.
Thanks for your support both mentally and physically.
Sincerely,
Orhun Oktar, Electrical and Electronics Engineer
Your program is great. I actually broke one ankle and sprained the other. I just got the cast off and will begin rehab on that ankle now.
I bought your Hem Ankle program in 2018 and used it very successfully with THREE ankle injuries. I am also interested to buy the programme for knees etc.
Pay once. Get lifetime access.
30 day money back guarantee
REAL PEOPLE, REAL RESULTS
Just got your videos for the holistic rehab the other day. It has already helped and I am so grateful as I know Drs want to cut you open and ask questions later. My left ankle is very badly sprained, completely black and purple and swollen half way up my calf. I am an athlete and have zero intentions of being cut on now or in the future! It was a major eversion off a curb and I just want it to get back to normal. Thanks so much for putting this HEM ankle rehab together, it's a godsend! Have a beautiful day.
Warm regards,
Faith Washington BSPharm, RPh, CSCS, CPT
Hey there,
I literally purchased this program about 20 minutes ago, and now having gotten partially through the videos... The content is already blowing my mind and I feel like this will be information I'll carry with me the rest of my life... Thank you for this info! Clearly you are a master of PT.
Hello Mr. Malin,
I want to thank you for this website. In the end of november, I sprained my ankle and my doctor said that there is an avulsion fracture in my ankle(ATFL). I had really hard times after this incident. When I was looking for how to heal fast, I saw your website. I tried to do as much as different exercises that you showed. Now I face some difficulties during my daily life due to my foot but swelling is decreasing everyday thanks to exercises. Especially, the video about how to activate ankle is very beneficial for me.
Thanks for your support both mentally and physically.
Sincerely,
Orhun Oktar, Electrical and Electronics Engineer
Your program is great. I actually broke one ankle and sprained the other. I just got the cast off and will begin rehab on that ankle now.
I bought your Hem Ankle program in 2018 and used it very successfully with THREE ankle injuries. I am also interested to buy the programme for knees etc.
Pay once. Get lifetime access.
30 day money back guarantee
Pay once. Get lifetime access.
30 day money back guarantee
15 YEARS. 100K HEALED.
Once I started HEM, the swelling and bruising subsided significantly and on the 4th day, I was walking comfortably again. I was shocked!
– Erikka Fernando
Thank you so much! It’s pretty amazing that I am doing as much as I am after a severe sprained ankle! Thanks for your support!!!
– Laurie Prindle
From the desk of Scott Malin, NASM-CPT
Creator, HEM Ankle Rehab
January 20, 2025
If you want to heal your ankle fully & fast…
And get back to doing what you love PAIN-FREE, without the fear of re-injury…
This will be the most important thing you ever do for yourself.
Here’s why:
My name is Scott Malin and fifteen years ago, I had to give up what I love… playing basketball. It literally crushed me to give it up!!
But, I had sprained my ankles so many times that I could no longer play.
Every time it happened, I used R.I.C.E. (rest, ice elevation, compression), but my ankles took months to heal and just kept getting weaker and more painful.
I tried everything, including ankle braces, but they made my ankles even weaker and then my knees started hurting too!
When I sprained my ankle one last time and had to crawl off the court, I knew I was done.
That night, I sat in my apartment and cried.
I was in my early thirties and thought I had to give up what I loved for the rest of my life.
But, I had no other option…
My ankles were just way too weak, stiff and unstable and painkillers/ice did nothing anymore.
As I lay in bed, staring up at the ceiling, I remembered back to when I trained with a clinician for the National Academy of Sports Medicine and Soft Tissue Therapist for the Los Angeles Clippers.
I also thought about a revolutionary Naturopath that taught me so much about healing the body naturally.
Then, I came up with a crazy idea…
It instantly improved how my ankle felt.
And the more I did it, the better my ankle got.
By day 6, my ankle was 100% pain-free and felt stronger and more stable than BEFORE I got injured.
The best part… I PLAYED BASKETBALL AGAIN, BUT THERE WAS NO PAIN!!
Afterward, I cried again, but they were tears of joy!!
When I told them what I did, my basketball buddies laughed and said I was crazy.
They called me a “dreamer”.
But, I didn’t care.
Because I had nothing to lose and everything to gain.
I threw my ankle braces away.
After months of late nights, early mornings, and lots of trial and error…
I created a complete, at-home healing system with incredibly reliable results:
- Heals new ankle injuries including ANY type and grade of ankle sprain.
- Heals old ankle injuries that never fully healed.
- Heals weak and unstable ankles.
- Even heals most Achilles, calf and foot injuries!
Since I was a fitness trainer, I was able to help all my clients (celebrities and athletes) whenever they got injured (which happened a lot!).
I was even on the news a few times!!!
The response from my clients was so overwhelming that a few of them eventually convinced me to make it available to everyone.
And even though it is incredibly complete, I always wanted to keep it SUPER simple and easy to do.
So, just follow along with me on any device and that’s it!
You get instant access to all the videos, which are short and focused on quickly giving you the information you need.
I will show you the absolute BEST rehab techniques, exercises, stretches, activations, holistic techniques, prehab techniques, etc….
These are techniques you will NOT find online anywhere else.
You will learn the perfect form for everything to get the best possible results.
It has taken many years of incredibly hard and dedicated work, but I am so humbled that over 100,000 people have healed themselves fully and fast with my program.
If you don’t believe me, please, check out all the reviews, including video testimonials, before and after pictures, etc. from people of all ages.
And listen, I know you’re probably still skeptical. That’s totally fair…
That’s why we have a very simple, no hassle, 30 day money back guarantee, so it’s completely risk-free to give it a try right now.
I created this program, because I don’t want others to go through all the pain and misery that I did!!
I don’t want anyone else to give up what they love…
Life is too short!!!
And now, there’s an easy way you can heal yourself and get back to your life.
I wish you all the best and thank you!!
Pay once. Get lifetime access.
30 day money back guarantee
REAL PEOPLE,
REAL RESULTS
Just got your videos for the holistic rehab the other day. It has already helped and I am so grateful as I know Drs want to cut you open and ask questions later. My left ankle is very badly sprained, completely black and purple and swollen half way up my calf. I am an athlete and have zero intentions of being cut on now or in the future! It was a major eversion off a curb and I just want it to get back to normal. Thanks so much for putting this HEM ankle rehab together, it's a godsend! Have a beautiful day.
Warm regards,
Faith Washington BSPharm, RPh, CSCS, CPT
Hey there,
I literally purchased this program about 20 minutes ago, and now having gotten partially through the videos... The content is already blowing my mind and I feel like this will be information I'll carry with me the rest of my life... Thank you for this info! Clearly you are a master of PT.
Hello Mr. Malin,
I want to thank you for this website. In the end of november, I sprained my ankle and my doctor said that there is an avulsion fracture in my ankle(ATFL). I had really hard times after this incident. When I was looking for how to heal fast, I saw your website. I tried to do as much as different exercises that you showed. Now I face some difficulties during my daily life due to my foot but swelling is decreasing everyday thanks to exercises. Especially, the video about how to activate ankle is very beneficial for me.
Thanks for your support both mentally and physically.
Sincerely,
Orhun Oktar, Electrical and Electronics Engineer
Your program is great. I actually broke one ankle and sprained the other. I just got the cast off and will begin rehab on that ankle now.
I bought your Hem Ankle program in 2018 and used it very successfully with THREE ankle injuries. I am also interested to buy the programme for knees etc.