Why the reverse lunge vs. the forward lunge?
The forward lunge itself is a great exercise for women. It works nearly every major muscle group in the lower part of the body. Plus, it improves flexibility in the hip flexors, which can become tight during aerobic exercise, which could pull your spine out of alignment thereby increasing your risk of back injury. When done properly, the lunge is safe for joints, it is back friendly, it burns maximum calories for the energy expended, it promotes lean muscle tone, and it works! But the safest and most effective variation of lunging is the reverse lunge. When you reverse your lunge, the effects on the muscles are the same, but less stress is placed on the knees because they cannot extend beyond the toes. And by taking a step backwards instead of forwards, it is easier to maintain balance because your weight is primarily centered upon your forward leg, which remains stationary. The main purpose of the reverse lunge is to develop the quadriceps and hamstring muscles in the thighs and to sh
