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Last updated March 11, 2026
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glutesHamstrings

Hip Thrust (Machine)

Sit in a hip thrust machine with your back against the pad. Drive the weight upward by extending your hips and squeezing your glutes at the top.

Quick facts

Difficulty
Easy
Mechanic
Compound
Force
Push
Type
Strength
Injury Risk
Low
Hypertrophy
High
Calorie Burn
Medium

Muscle focus

Primary and secondary muscle groups targeted by this movement.

Primary

glutes (max)hamstrings

Secondary

quadsabslower back

Equipment & setup

What you need and how to position yourself before starting.

Equipment

weight machines / selectorized

Movement pattern

Bilateral

Posture

Seated

Tracking parameters

repsweight

Step-by-step instructions

Follow these cues to master proper technique and stay safe through every rep.

  1. Step 1Setup
    • Sit in the hip thrust machine with your upper back resting against the back pad.
    • Place your feet flat on the footplate at hip-width apart.
    • Adjust the lap pad so it sits comfortably across your hips.
  2. Step 2Execution
    • Brace your core and drive through your heels to push the weight upward.
    • Extend your hips fully until your torso and thighs form a straight line.
    • Squeeze your glutes as hard as possible at the top of the movement.
    • Hold the contraction for 1-2 seconds.
  3. Step 3Return
    • Slowly lower the weight back to the starting position.
    • Maintain control throughout the eccentric phase.
    • Do not let the weight drop or rest completely between reps.
Version 1 · Created February 24, 2026