The Clam Exercise

To Strengthen the Left Gluteus Medius:

  • The patient is lying on their R side with their shoulders, hips and feet touching against a wall. The shoulders and hips are perpendicular to the table or floor and the hips and knees are flexed to 45-60 degrees.
  • Instruct the patient to draw in the abdomen using the transversus abdominis without holding their breath.
  • Ask the patient to lift the left knee toward the ceiling, keeping the feet in contact.
  • The instruction to the patient is to attempt to lift the leg up to touch the wall and then hold for 10 seconds.
  • The patient repeats the movement 3-5 times initially, then increases the number of repetitions as their strength improves.
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