Cable Knee Drive

The Cable Knee Drive is a functional core exercise that targets the hip flexors and lower abdominals by mimicking the sprinting motion against resistance. This movement builds deep core strength, improves running mechanics, and enhances single-leg stability.

Exercise movement reviewed by:Marie Braga, PT, DPT, CSCS
How Iridium Programs This

Iridium monitors fatigue specifically in the hip flexors to ensure this isolation work does not limit your performance on upcoming compound leg movements like squats. By analyzing your 7-day workout history, the algorithm regulates volume to stay within your Maximum Recoverable Volume while still applying progressive overload through weight and RPE tracking.

Form Cues

Do
  • Stand tall and brace your core before moving
  • Squeeze the glute of your standing leg for stability
  • Drive your knee up explosively to hip height
  • Control the leg slowly on the way back down
  • Keep your torso completely upright throughout
Don't
  • Don't lean backward as you lift your knee
  • Don't let the weight stack slam down between reps
  • Don't allow your lower back to arch
  • Don't rely on momentum to swing the leg up

Common Mistakes

  • Leaning back to compensate for heavy weight
  • Rounding the shoulders forward
  • Performing the reps too quickly
  • Not engaging the standing leg glute
  • Using a range of motion that causes back pain

Muscles Worked

This exercise primarily targets the iliopsoas (hip flexors) and the lower portion of the rectus abdominis, forcing them to work in unison to lift the leg. It requires significant secondary engagement from the glutes and erector spinae to maintain an upright, stable posture on the standing leg.

Primary

Lower AbsHip Flexors

Secondary

General Core

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