📖 Static demo — read-only snapshot

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Hip Airplane

Draftbalance80%advancedmoderate evidence
View FHIR resourceFHIR R4 ActivityDefinition — the interoperable form of this exercise

Positions & Range of Motion

Start
single-leg stance with the knee slightly bent, trunk hinged forward at the hip to near-horizontal, non-stance leg extended behind in line with the trunk
End
trunk and pelvis rotated from the hip toward the stance side (internal rotation) then away (external rotation), returning to a level near-horizontal position
Range of Motion
hip internal/external rotation to comfortable end range under single-leg load, with the trunk held in ~90° hip-hinge and the spine kept still

How to Perform

Single-leg stance, hinge forward into a near-horizontal position. From there, slowly rotate the trunk internally toward the stance hip, then externally — like wings of a plane tilting. Controls hip internal/external rotation under single-leg load.

Watch on YouTube

Opens a YouTube search for “Hip Airplane

Starting position: standing

Coaching Cues

  1. 1

    Stance leg slightly bent — never lock the knee

    (verbal)
  2. 2

    Rotation comes from the hip, not the spine — hold a stick across the shoulders to feel this

    (tactile)

Evidence-Based Dosing & EMG Data

Recommended Dosing

3 × 8 reps per side, slow tempo (3 s each direction), 3×/week.

Muscles Involved (0)

No muscles linked.

Easier Variations ↓

1

Wall-Supported Hip Airplane

Hand on wall through the rotation phase.

Harder Variations ↑

1

Hip Airplane with Reach

Add a contralateral arm reach to amplify rotation demand.

Target Movements (3)

Hip External RotationHip Joint (Coxofemoral)
Hip AbductionHip Joint (Coxofemoral)
Hip ExtensionHip Joint (Coxofemoral)

Why This Exercise Matters

Everyday activities this exercise helps you do — essential means it directly trains the capacity the task needs:

Goals This Helps With

Rehab, performance, prevention, and mobility goals this exercise supports — essential means it's a cornerstone:

Research Notes

Uniquely loads gluteus medius/minimus in all 3 planes simultaneously — replicating gait stance-phase demands. Progress from wall- or hand-supported to free-standing.