Resistance Band Lunge exercise demonstration image

Video Coming Soon

We're working on adding video demonstrations for this exercise.

Resistance Band Lunge

Intermediate
Home Friendly

A unilateral lower body exercise using a resistance band under the front foot that targets quads, glutes, and hamstrings to build strength, hypertrophy, and stability; ideal for functional training and balance improvement.

About Exercise

Equipment

Bands, Body Weight

Difficulty

3/5 • Intermediate

Primary Muscle Groups

Quads, Glutes

Secondary Muscles

Abs, Obliques, Calves

Popularity Score

7

Goals

Strength
Hypertrophy
Stability

Training Style

Functional Training

Setup Requirements

Requires Rack

No

Requires Bench

No

Requires Spotter

No

Space Needed

Medium

Noise Level

Low

Muscle Breakdown

Quads

9/10

Rectus Femoris, Vastus Lateralis, Vastus Medialis

Glutes

8/10

Glute Max, Glute Medius

Hamstrings

6/10

Biceps Femoris, Semitendinosus, Semimembranosus

Abs

5/10

Rectus Abdominis

Obliques

4/10

External Obliques

Calves

3/10

Gastrocnemius

Programming

Typical Rep Range

8-15 reps

Rest Between Sets

60-90 seconds

How to Perform

Stand with feet hip-width apart and place the center of a looped resistance band under the arch of your right foot. Grasp the ends at shoulder height with arms extended to create tension, keeping core engaged and torso upright.

  1. Step backward with your left foot, keeping feet hip-width apart for stability.
  2. Bend both knees to lower your body until front thigh is parallel to the floor and back knee hovers near the ground.
  3. Drive through the front heel to extend knees and return to start position.
  4. Switch legs after completing reps on one side.
  5. Maintain upright torso and even weight distribution throughout.
  6. Keep front knee aligned over toes without collapsing inward.

Coaching Tips

Form Cues

  • Drive through front heel
  • Knees track over toes
  • Core tight, chest up
  • Step back wide for stability
  • Avoid leaning forward

Breathing

Inhale as you lower into the lunge; exhale forcefully as you drive back up.

Tempo

3-1-1

Range of Motion

Lower until front thigh is parallel to floor and back knee is 1-2 inches above ground; fully extend both knees at top without locking.

Safety

Safety Notes

  • Inspect band for damage before use
  • Choose appropriate resistance to maintain form
  • Stop if sharp knee or hip pain occurs
  • Use support for balance if needed
  • Avoid if acute knee instability present

Spotting

No spotter needed; perform near wall for balance support if beginner.

Common Mistakes

  • Front knee past toes
  • Leaning torso forward
  • Back knee bouncing on floor
  • Uneven foot positioning
  • Collapsing inward at knee

When to Avoid

  • Acute knee pain
  • Hip instability
  • Recent lower back injury

Flexibility Needed

  • Adequate ankle dorsiflexion
  • Hip flexion range for deep lunge

Build Up First

  • Master bodyweight lunge form
  • Basic balance and coordination

Also known as

Banded Lunge, Band Forward Lunge, Resistance Lunge

Found this helpful?

Share your thoughts or help us improve this guide.

Hero Image

Master your movement.

Experience automatic exercise detection and rep counting - powered by the motion of your Apple Watch.

We use cookies to enhance your browsing experience, serve personalized content, and analyze our traffic. By clicking 'Accept All', you consent to our use of cookies.