clamshells and bridges

[Anonymous]

I've been doing these as part of knee therapy, and I read that they are only glute activators. The definition of that seems to be turn on the muscles so that you can then use/build them with more rigorous activity or lunges or squats etc--but does that mean that there are no toning/strengthening benefits to these two? Because the leg/butt toning routines I've seen certainly make use of them. (I will continue to do them as therapy, just a bit disappointed that I may not see any other results.)

[Anonymous]

Do them banded

[Anonymous]

I had to do a lot of those for PT for my lower back. It sounds like the same idea -- activate and strengthen the big muscles so you have more stability when engaging in activity. I agree with PPs suggestion to do them with a band around your mid-shin if you aren't already. By the end of PT I worked my way up to the hardest band. I don't think you will necessarily see results from doing them. But if they give you the strength and stability you need in order to safely do things like squats and lunges, that's a good thing.

[Anonymous]

Those are generally activation exercises designed for injury recovery and to activate muscles prior to a workout or as a finisher to a workout.

They are not "stand alone" exercises, but they could possibly work with other floor exercises a la Jane Fonda workouts depending on your goals. Any kind of info commercial pushing a product that is more gimmicky is almost the same comparison.

Simply add weight when you do bridges.