Revitalize Hip Strength Post-55: Top 5 Standing Exercises That Outperform Floor Stretches

Maintaining robust hip strength is crucial, especially as it can significantly reduce the risk of falls by ensuring the stability of your spine and pelvis.

As you age, particularly past the age of 55, prioritizing certain aspects of physical health becomes essential, with hip strength being a key focus. This is important to counteract the muscle degeneration, known as sarcopenia, that naturally occurs with aging. Strengthening your hips facilitates a more active and independent lifestyle, enabling you to remain mobile and handle daily activities more effortlessly.

To help you begin this journey, we consulted with Terry Tateossian, the Founder and a Certified Lifestyle Medicine Coach at THOR – The House of Rose. She specializes in women’s health and weight management for those over 40, drawing on her extensive training in this field. We’ve compiled a list of five effective standing exercises to boost your hip strength more efficiently than traditional floor stretches, especially for those over 55.

“The hips often require significant attention, particularly in women over 55,” Tateossian explains. “It’s common to encounter tightness, imbalances, and more pronounced sarcopenia in the glutes, which are crucial for hip stabilization.” She further notes that as estrogen and testosterone levels decrease during midlife for both genders, there is a heightened need to focus on maintaining muscle mass to prevent reduced stability and balance. This is especially critical as weakening of the glutes and hips can lead to an increased risk of falls and injuries.

“The hips are one of the areas in the body where I see the most attention required—especially in women over 55. It’s very common to have tight hips, a possible imbalance in the hips and hip stabilizers, and more profound sarcopenia in the glutes (which stabilize the hips),” Tateossian tells us. “As estrogen/testosterone declines in midlife for both men and women, and without proactive attention in retaining muscle as we age, we start to experience reduced stability and balance. We have higher risks of falls and injuries, especially when the glutes and hips are declining in strength.”

Walking mechanics and posture change as hip strength declines. It becomes common to place strain on your lower back and knees because they are compensating. That’s where standing exercises come in clutch and serve as an effective addition to your workout routine.

“Standing exercises are great for building strength in the hips/ glutes as they activate the stabilizing muscles and train the hips/glutes in a weight-bearing position, which is how we actually use them,” Tateossian says. “Stretching (floor hip exercises) helps you move better, but standing hip/glute exercises help you develop strength, be stable, and stay injury-free.”

Chair Squats

1. Begin by standing tall in front of a sturdy chair with your feet hip-width apart on the ground.
2. Activate your core and keep your chest lifted.
3. Bend at the knees and hips and lower slowly into a squat—as if you’re about to sit down. Make sure your weight stays in your heels.
4. Lightly touch the surface of the chair with your glutes.
5. Press through your heels to rise back up.
6. Perform 2 to 3 sets of 8 to 10 reps, resting for 60 seconds between sets.

Standing Hip Abductions

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1. Begin by standing tall with your feet hip-width apart and hands on your hips.
2. Activate your core and shift your weight onto your left leg.
3. Keep your right leg straight and toes pointed forward as you lift it out to the side as high as you’re comfortably able to.
4. Hold at the top for a moment before lowering for 3 seconds.
5. Perform 2 to 3 sets of 12 to 15 reps on each side, resting for 60 seconds between sets.

Low Step-Ups

1. Begin by standing tall, facing a low step or sturdy chair.
2. Place your left foot firmly onto the surface, keeping your core engaged and chest tall.
3. Press through your left heel to lift your body until your left leg is straight and you’re standing on the surface.
4. Use control to lower back to the start position.
5. Repeat on the other side.
6. Perform 2 to 3 sets of 8 to 12 steps on each side, resting for 60 seconds between sets.

Romanian Deaflits

1. Stand tall, feet hip-width apart, holding a dumbbell in each hand.
2. Bend your knees slightly and hold the weights in front of your thighs.
3. Press your hips back as you lower the dumbbells down your leg to about 1 inch below the knees. Maintain a straight back as you do so.
4. Squeeze your glutes to return to the start position.
5. Perform 2 to 3 sets of 10 to 12 reps, resting for 30 seconds between sets.

Lateral Band Walks

1. Begin by placing a resistance band around your ankles or thighs.
2. Slightly bend your knees and step sideways, keeping your movement controlled.
3. Perform 2 to 3 sets of 20 reps in total, resting for 60 seconds between sets.