Targeting the gluteus medius and minimus is best achieved through hip abduction exercises. These muscles are primarily responsible for moving the leg away from the body's midline, which is the exact action involved in hip abduction.
When engaging in hip abduction movements, whether performed with resistance bands, cable machines, or body weight, the gluteus medius and minimus are activated directly as they work to stabilize the pelvis and control leg movement. This specificity in action is what makes hip abduction so effective for strengthening these particular muscles.
While other exercises like leg presses and squats can engage the glutes, they tend to recruit the larger gluteus maximus more significantly and may not effectively isolate the medius and minimus. Hip thrusts primarily target the gluteus maximus, focusing on extending the hips rather than abducting the legs. Thus, hip abduction stands out as the most effective choice for isolating and specifically targeting the gluteus medius and minimus.