What Are the Benefits of Leg Lifts?

Muscles Worked

Although the numerous variations of leg lifts heighten the focus on toning and shaping specific muscles, virtually every type of leg lift targets the all-important glutes, thighs and core. In addition to these target areas, leg lifts also engage the hamstrings as a secondary muscle group. Leg lifts won't pack on muscle or burn a ton of calories; they focus instead on defining and toning the lower body. “Sport Illustrated” recommends the side leg lift exercise for toning the thighs and hips, in particular.

Variations

Standing leg lifts, perhaps the most common of all the exercise's varied iterations, focuses squarely on firming the glutes. Seated varieties, such as the one recommended by “Shape” magazine, include the seated single-leg lift. This move works the quads and core while hanging variations focus specifically on toning the abs. To intensify your lower-body workout, you can add a resistance band or ankle weights to this exercise. For a simultaneous upper-body workout, pair standing leg lifts with a medicine ball or dumbbells.

Calorie Burn

Despite the focus on toning, you still stand to burn a few calories when performing leg lifts. According to estimates from the “Washington Post,” leg lifts burn about 125 calories per half hour, equaling the caloric burn of common calisthenic exercises such as pushups, crunches and lunges. It doesn't look like much on paper, but that's just enough calories to burn off the average slice of cake.

Considerations

Though some trainers and prominent fitness publications continue to recommend leg lifts, some fitness gurus doubt the potential benefits of the exercise. For instance, the National Council on Strength and Fitness, a governing board for personal trainers, calls the entire concept of lifting your legs to tone your abs “flawed at the biomechanical level.” The group does not, however, doubt the exercise's leg-shaping effects, and does recommend hanging leg lifts for abdominal and core development.