Legs · Bodyweight
Clamshell
How to do the clamshell, the muscles it works, and the mistakes to avoid. Pulled straight from the Kovo app's exercise library.
- Equipment
- Bodyweight
- Difficulty
- Beginner
- Logged as
- Weighted reps
- Movement
- Hip Abduction
- Mechanic
- Isolation
How to do it
Lie on your side with hips stacked and knees bent about 90 degrees, feet together. Keep the pelvis still while you open the top knee, then close slowly.
- 1Feel the glute med and deep hip rotators working as the knee opens
- 2Keep feet touching and pelvis stacked
- 3Control the open and close without rocking
Common mistakes
- Don't roll the hips back or twist the torso
- Avoid letting the feet separate
- Don't rush the reps; move with control
Muscles worked
The clamshell mainly works the glutes.
- GlutesPrimary
- Lower AbsMinor
Kovo programs the clamshell for you and tracks it every session.
We build your whole program, drop the right lifts into each workout, and adjust your weights as you get stronger. Free on iOS and Android.
More glutes exercises
- How to do the agility ladder drill
- How to do the airdyne bike
- How to do the arc trainer
- How to do the assault bike
- How to do the medicine ball atlas stone lift
- How to do the b stance hip thrust
Last reviewed April 2026.