How to do a Walkout
Reviewed by Jim Parker, CPT, B.A. Kinesiology
Workouts with Walkout
Instructions for Proper Form
Walkouts are a compound, bodyweight exercise that primarily targets your core, shoulders, and hamstrings. The exercise involves standing with your feet hip-width apart, bending over to touch the ground, walking your hands forward until you're in a push-up position, and then walking back to the standing position. This is a great exercise for improving strength, stability, and range of motion in your core and upper body.
- Stand upright with your feet hip width apart.
- Drop your hands down to the outsides of your feet and begin walking your hands forward until you’ve created a straight line from shoulders to your heels ending with your hands underneath your shoulders.
- Walk your hands back to your feet and return to an upright position.
Alternatives & Variations to Walkout
1. Hip Hinge
13.7 mSCORESWAPPED 513 TIMESHip Hinge is a fundamental movement pattern that primarily targets the glutes and hamstrings. This is a compound exercise that emphasizes proper form and mechanics which are critical for many other strength training exercises like Deadlifts and Good Mornings. This movement helps improve hip mobility and stability, and is a vital component for building a strong and resilient posterior chain.
2. Leg Swing
12.7 mSCORESWAPPED 334 TIMESLeg Swing is an effective dynamic stretch that primarily targets the hip flexors and hamstrings. This compound exercise involves swinging your leg forward and backward, or side to side, maintaining controlled movement as you progress through the range. It’s an excellent warm-up exercise to improve mobility, flexibility, and coordination, making it easier to prepare for more intense lower body workouts.
3. Bear Crawl
6.1 mSCORESWAPPED 268 TIMESBear Crawl is a compound, bodyweight exercise that primarily targets the core, shoulders, and legs. By moving on all fours, you engage multiple muscle groups simultaneously while also enhancing coordination and stability. This exercise adds an element of cardio, making it a great way to build endurance and functional strength, with practical benefits for overall body control and movement.
4. Single-Leg Cycles
12.5 mSCORESWAPPED 215 TIMESSingle-Leg Cycles is a core-centric, bodyweight exercise that targets the abdominals and hip flexors. By pedaling your legs in a cycling motion, you maintain continuous tension in these muscle groups. Performing the exercise one leg at a time can help improve coordination and balance, as well as ensure balanced muscle development by addressing any potential imbalances between sides.
5. Dumbbell Romanian Deadlift
97.6 mSCORESWAPPED 167 TIMESThis exercise is a variation on Romanian Deadlifts. Like other Romanian Deadlifts, this is a compound exercise that primarily targets your hamstrings and glutes. The use of dumbbells can help with some limitations in mobility, and is a great starting point for anyone working towards performing Deadlifts or Romanian Deadlifts with a barbell.
6. Walkout to Push Up
15.4 mSCORESWAPPED 149 TIMESCombines a forward walkout with a push-up, targeting the chest, shoulders, core, and arm muscles. This full-body exercise improves flexibility, stability, and strength, making it perfect for a dynamic warm-up or conditioning.
7. Dumbbell Good Morning
63.8 mSCORESWAPPED 120 TIMESThe Dumbbell Good Morning is a strength exercise that focuses on the posterior chain, including the hamstrings, glutes, and lower back. Holding a dumbbell at chest level or placing two dumbbells on the shoulders, you hinge at the hips and lean forward with a straight back, then return to the starting position. This movement emphasizes hip mobility and back strength, improving posture and stability. It's a versatile exercise suitable for all fitness levels, offering a low-impact alternative to enhance lower back and hamstring flexibility and strength.
8. Airplane
12.8 mSCORESWAPPED 113 TIMESAirplane is a bodyweight balance exercise that primarily targets the glutes, hamstrings, and lower back. By standing on one leg and extending your arms and opposite leg out, this exercise adds significant instability, helping to improve balance and muscle coordination. This is a great exercise for enhancing proprioception and functional strength, especially in stabilizing muscles.
- Intermediate
- Hamstrings
9. Lunge to Hamstring Stretch
5.2 mSCORESWAPPED 98 TIMESLunge to Hamstring Stretch is a dynamic movement that combines a standard Lunge with a Hamstring Stretch. This compound exercise primarily targets the quadriceps, glutes, and hamstrings. By transitioning from a forward lunge into a hamstring stretch, you enhance flexibility while also promoting strength and stability. It's an excellent addition to warm-up routines to improve mobility and prepare your lower body for more intense exercises.
10. Tuck Jump
66.5 mSCORESWAPPED 91 TIMESTuck Jump is a plyometric exercise that primarily targets the lower body, especially the quadriceps and calves. This compound and explosive movement is beneficial for improving power and explosive strength. By tucking your knees towards your chest at the top of the jump, you add an extra challenge to your vertical leap, which helps improve overall athleticism and body control.
- Intermediate
- Hamstrings