Exercise guide · Intermediate · Compound

Dumbbell Rear Lunge: How to Do It & Muscles Worked

The dumbbell rear lunge is a lower body exercise that targets the glutes, with secondary emphasis on the quadriceps, hamstrings, and calves. It involves stepping backward into a lunge while holding dumbbells, challenging balance and unilateral leg strength.

Primary muscles
Glutes
Secondary muscles
Hamstrings , Quads , Calves
Equipment
Dumbbell
Level · type
Intermediate · Compound
Demonstration of the dumbbell rear lunge
Front view: muscles worked by the dumbbell rear lunge. Primary: glutes. Secondary: hamstrings, quads and calves.
Back view: muscles worked by the dumbbell rear lunge. Primary: glutes. Secondary: hamstrings, quads and calves.
Primary Secondary

How to do the dumbbell rear lunge

  1. Step 1: Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart, holding a dumbbell in each hand.
  2. Step 2: Take a step backward with your right foot, lowering your body into a lunge position.
  3. Step 3: Bend your left knee and lower your body until your left thigh is parallel to the ground.
  4. Step 4: Pause for a moment, then push through your left heel to return to the starting position.
  5. Step 5: Repeat on the other side, stepping back with your left foot.

Sets, reps and programming

Suggested sets, reps and rest for the dumbbell rear lunge by training goal
Goal Sets Reps Rest Effort
Strength 3–5 3–6 3–5 min 1–3 reps in reserve
Muscle growth 3–4 6–12 2–3 min 1–2 reps in reserve
Muscular endurance 2–3 12–20 1–2 min 1–3 reps in reserve

Ranges follow the ACSM position stand on progression in resistance training. Muscle grows across a wide range of loads when sets end close to failure (Schoenfeld et al., 2017), longer rests between heavy sets support strength and size (Schoenfeld et al., 2016), and stopping a rep or two short of failure works about as well as training to failure (Grgic et al., 2022). Estimate your working weights with the strength calculators.

Dumbbell Rear Lunge alternatives

More exercises that train the glutes as their main target:

More glutes exercises

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Sources

  1. American College of Sports Medicine. Progression models in resistance training for healthy adults. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2009;41(3):687-708.
  2. Schoenfeld BJ, Grgic J, Ogborn D, Krieger JW. Strength and hypertrophy adaptations between low- vs. high-load resistance training. J Strength Cond Res. 2017;31(12):3508-3523.
  3. Schoenfeld BJ, Pope ZK, Benik FM, et al. Longer interset rest periods enhance muscle strength and hypertrophy in resistance-trained men. J Strength Cond Res. 2016;30(7):1805-1812.
  4. Grgic J, Schoenfeld BJ, Orazem J, Sabol F. Effects of resistance training performed to repetition failure or non-failure on muscular strength and hypertrophy: a systematic review and meta-analysis. J Sport Health Sci. 2022;11(2):202-211.

Step-by-step instructions and demonstration media are from the ExerciseDB exercise dataset.

This guide is general fitness information, not medical advice. Stop if an exercise causes pain and speak to a doctor or physiotherapist about injuries or health conditions before starting a new programme.