Standing Cable Hip Abduction

Setup

1. 01Attach an ankle cuff to a low pulley and strap it to the outside ankle.
2. 02Stand side-on to the machine with the working leg farthest from the stack.
3. 03Hold the frame with the inside hand and stand tall on the support leg.

Execution

1. 01Sweep the working leg straight out to the side, leading with the heel.
2. 02Lift only as high as the hips can stay level, usually 30 to 45 degrees.
3. 03Pause briefly at the top of the sweep.
4. 04Lower under control back across the midline and repeat, then switch legs.

Checkpoints

• -Hips stay square and level — no hiking the working hip.
• -Torso stays upright, not leaning away to fake range.
• -Toes of the working foot point forward, not up toward the ceiling.

Common mistakes

• -Leaning the torso toward the machine to lift the leg higher.
• -Swinging the leg with momentum instead of a controlled sweep.
• -Externally rotating the leg so the hip flexors take over.
• -Loading too heavy for a strict, level-hip movement.