10 Best On Your Side Quad Stretch Alternatives for Limited Mobility

The On Your Side Quad Stretch is done lying face down. Ranked closest by our scoring: the Assisted Prone Lying Quads Stretch, the Assisted Prone Rectus Femoris Stretch and the Lying Prone Quadriceps.

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Original Exercise: On Your Side Quad Stretch

On Your Side Quad Stretch
Primary muscle
Quads
Equipment
Other
Difficulty
Beginner
Type
Isolation
How to perform On Your Side Quad Stretch
  1. Start off by lying on your right side, with your right knee bent at a 90-degree angle resting on the floor in front of you (this stabilizes the torso).
  2. Bend your left knee behind you and hold your left foot with your left hand. To stretch your hip flexor, press your left hip forward as you push your left foot back into your hand. Switch sides.
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Ranked On Your Side Quad Stretch Alternatives

10 substitutes, ranked by how closely each one matches the On Your Side Quad Stretch on movement pattern, muscles worked, equipment and body position. The higher the score, the less you change. Open "How to perform this exercise" on a card for the steps; every card title links to that exercise's own alternatives page.

    • Quads
    • Other
    • Beginner
    • Isolation
    How to perform this exercise
    1. Lie face down on the ground with your legs straight.
    2. Bend your right knee and reach back with your right hand to grab your right foot or ankle.
    3. Gently pull your right foot or ankle towards your glutes, feeling a stretch in the front of your right thigh.
    4. Hold the stretch for 20-30 seconds.
    5. Release and repeat on the other side.

    Sets and reps: Hold for 30 to 60 seconds and repeat 2 or 3 times.

    Why this matches
    • Movement: static stretch, the same as the On Your Side Quad Stretch
    • Primary muscle: quads, the same as the On Your Side Quad Stretch
    • Equipment: bodyweight only, the same as the On Your Side Quad Stretch
    • Body position: lying face down, the same as the On Your Side Quad Stretch
  1. Lying Prone Quadriceps
    • Quads
    • Bodyweight
    • Beginner
    • Isolation
    How to perform this exercise
    1. Lay face down on the floor with your partner kneeling beside you. Flex one knee and raise that leg off the ground, attempting to touch your glutes with your foot. Your partner should hold the knee and ankle. This will be your starting position.
    2. Attempt to extend your knee while your partner prevents any actual movement.
    3. After 10-20 seconds, relax your muscles as your partner gently pushes the foot towards your glutes, further stretching the quadriceps and hip flexors.
    4. After 10-20 seconds, switch sides.

    Sets and reps: Hold for 30 to 60 seconds and repeat 2 or 3 times.

    Why this matches
    • Primary muscle: quads, the same as the On Your Side Quad Stretch
    • Equipment: bodyweight only, the same as the On Your Side Quad Stretch
    • Body position: lying face down, the same as the On Your Side Quad Stretch
  2. On-your-back Quad Stretch
    • Quads
    • Other
    • Beginner
    • Isolation
    How to perform this exercise
    1. Lie on a flat bench or step, and hang one leg and arm over the side.
    2. Bend the knee and hold the top of the foot. As you do this, be careful not to arch your lower back.
    3. Pull the belly button to the spine to stay in neutral. Press your foot down and into your hand. To add the hip stretch, lift the hip of the leg you're holding up toward the ceiling.
    4. Switch sides.

    Sets and reps: Hold for 30 to 60 seconds and repeat 2 or 3 times.

    Why this matches
    • Movement: static stretch, the same as the On Your Side Quad Stretch
    • Primary muscle: quads, the same as the On Your Side Quad Stretch
    • Equipment: bodyweight only, the same as the On Your Side Quad Stretch
    • Body position: lying on your back, not lying face down
    • Quads
    • Bodyweight
    • Beginner
    • Isolation
    How to perform this exercise
    1. Lie on your side with your legs straight.
    2. Bend your top leg and grab your ankle or foot with your hand.
    3. Gently pull your ankle or foot towards your glutes until you feel a stretch in your quads.
    4. Hold the stretch for 20-30 seconds.
    5. Release the stretch and repeat on the other side.

    Sets and reps: Hold for 20 to 30 seconds on each side, 3 sets.

    Why this matches
    • Movement: static stretch, the same as the On Your Side Quad Stretch
    • Primary muscle: quads, the same as the On Your Side Quad Stretch
    • Equipment: bodyweight only, the same as the On Your Side Quad Stretch
  3. Quadriceps-smr
    • Quads
    • Foam-roll
    • Beginner
    • Isolation
    How to perform this exercise
    1. Lay facedown on the floor with your weight supported by your hands or forearms. Place a foam roll underneath one leg on the quadriceps, and keep the foot off of the ground. Make sure to relax the leg as much as possible. This will be your starting position.
    2. Shifting as much weight onto the leg to be stretched as is tolerable, roll over the foam from above the knee to below the hip, holding points of tension for 10-30 seconds. Switch sides.

    Sets and reps: Hold for 30 to 60 seconds and repeat 2 or 3 times.

    Why this matches
    • Primary muscle: quads, the same as the On Your Side Quad Stretch
    • Equipment: bodyweight only, the same as the On Your Side Quad Stretch
    • Body position: lying face down, the same as the On Your Side Quad Stretch
    • Quads
    • Bodyweight
    • Beginner
    • Isolation
    How to perform this exercise
    1. Sit on the edge of a chair with your back straight and feet flat on the ground.
    2. Extend one leg straight out in front of you, keeping your heel on the ground.
    3. Lean forward slightly, feeling a stretch in your quadriceps.
    4. Hold this position for 20-30 seconds.
    5. Switch legs and repeat the stretch.

    Sets and reps: Hold for 20 to 30 seconds on each side, 3 sets.

    Why this matches
    • Movement: static stretch, the same as the On Your Side Quad Stretch
    • Primary muscle: quads, the same as the On Your Side Quad Stretch
    • Equipment: bodyweight only, the same as the On Your Side Quad Stretch
    • Body position: seated, not lying face down
  4. Quad Stretch
    • Quads
    • Other
    • Beginner
    • Isolation
    How to perform this exercise
    1. Lay on your side. Loop a belt, rope, or band around your top foot. Flex the knee and extend your hip, attempting to touch your glutes with your foot, and holding the belt with your hands. This will be your starting position.
    2. With the belt being held over the shoulder or overhead, gently pull to increase the stretch in the quadriceps. Hold for 10-20 seconds, and then switch sides.

    Sets and reps: Hold for 20 to 30 seconds on each side, 3 sets.

    Why this matches
    • Movement: static stretch, the same as the On Your Side Quad Stretch
    • Primary muscle: quads, the same as the On Your Side Quad Stretch
    • Equipment: bodyweight only, the same as the On Your Side Quad Stretch
  5. Kneeling Hip Flexor
    • Quads
    • Bodyweight
    • Beginner
    • Isolation
    How to perform this exercise
    1. Kneel on a mat and bring your right knee up so the bottom of your foot is on the floor and extend your left leg out behind you so the top of your foot is on the floor.
    2. Shift your weight forward until you feel a stretch in your hip. Hold for 15 seconds, then repeat for your other side.

    Sets and reps: Hold for 20 to 30 seconds on each side, 3 sets.

    Why this matches
    • Primary muscle: quads, the same as the On Your Side Quad Stretch
    • Equipment: bodyweight only, the same as the On Your Side Quad Stretch
    • Body position: kneeling, not lying face down
  6. Standing Elevated Quad Stretch
    • Quads
    • Other
    • Beginner
    • Isolation
    How to perform this exercise
    1. Start by standing with your back about two to three feet away from a bench or step.
    2. Lift one leg behind you and rest your foot on the step,either on your instep or the ball of your foot, whichever you find most comfortable.
    3. Keep your supporting knee slightly bent and avoid letting that knee extend out beyond your toes. Switch sides.

    Sets and reps: Hold for 30 to 60 seconds and repeat 2 or 3 times.

    Why this matches
    • Movement: static stretch, the same as the On Your Side Quad Stretch
    • Primary muscle: quads, the same as the On Your Side Quad Stretch
    • Equipment: -, not bodyweight only
    • Body position: standing, not lying face down

On Your Side Quad Stretch FAQ

What muscles does On Your Side Quad Stretch work?

The stretch primarily targets the quadriceps group, especially the rectus femoris, which crosses both the hip and knee. It lengthens the rectus femoris through hip extension and knee flexion while the vasti experience knee flexion-specific stretch.

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