Arnold Schwarzenegger and Franco Columbu were known for experimenting in the gym to overcome weaknesses. One of their discoveries: squatting with a wider stance helps develop the inner thighs (see page 123 of Total Recall, Arnold’s autobiography, for more details).

This is an area I’ve been targeting over the past couple of years using a steady diet of wide-stance squats and sumo-style deadlifts. But let me be clear—wide stance doesn’t mean edge-of-the-rack wide. Many powerlifters who squat that way to shorten the range of motion end up needing hip replacements down the line.

Instead, I’ve found that a semi-wide stance is just as effective for inner thigh development with significantly less stress on the hips. I’ll go into more detail during my upcoming injury prevention lecture at canfitpro 2019.

Take a look at the video. My feet are just outside shoulder-width, toes turned out slightly, with knees tracking over the middle toes. If you’re looking to target your inner thighs, give this squat variation a try.