Exercise Comparison
Barbell Hip Thrust vs Piriformis-SMR
Side-by-Side
Muscle Analysis
Shared
Only in Barbell Hip Thrust
Instructions
Barbell Hip Thrust
Begin seated on the ground with a bench directly behind you. Have a loaded barbell over your legs. Using a fat bar or having a pad on the bar can greatly reduce the discomfort caused by this exercise.
Roll the bar so that it is directly above your hips, and lean back against the bench so that your shoulder blades are near the top of it.
Begin the movement by driving through your feet, extending your hips vertically through the bar. Your weight should be supported by your shoulder blades and your feet. Extend as far as possible, then reverse the motion to return to the starting position.
Piriformis-SMR
Sit with your buttocks on top of a foam roll. Bend your knees, and then cross one leg so that the ankle is over the knee. This will be your starting position.
Shift your weight to the side of the crossed leg, rolling over the buttocks until you feel tension in your upper glute. You may assist the stretch by using one hand to pull the bent knee towards your chest. Hold this position for 10-30 seconds, and then switch sides.
Verdict
Both exercises target the glutes. Barbell Hip Thrust is a intermediate exercise using barbell, while Piriformis-SMR is intermediate and uses foam roll. Choose Barbell Hip Thrust if you have access to barbell, or Piriformis-SMR if you prefer foam roll. Barbell Hip Thrust is a compound movement working multiple joints, making it better for overall strength. Piriformis-SMR isolates the target muscle for focused development.