The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of contralateral hip adduction (CHA) on the muscle activity of lumbar stabilizers and the angle of pelvic lateral tilting during hip abduction in side lying. Twenty healthy male subjects with no medical history of lower extremity or lumbar spine disorders were recruited for the study. Subjects randomly performed preferred hip abduction (PHA) and hip abduction with contralateral hip adduction in side lying. The muscle activities of the dominant side rectus abdominis, external oblique, internal oblique, quadratus lumborum, gluteus medius, and non-dominant side hip adductor longus were measured during PHA and CHA by using a surface electromyography (EMG) system. Pelvic lateral tilting motion was measured by using a three-dimensional motion analysis system. Data on EMG and pelvic motion were collected at the same time during PHA and CHA. A paired t-test was used to compare EMG activity and the angle of pelvic lateral tilting in the two exercises. The study found that the EMG activities of all muscles were more increased significantly in CHA than PHA condition. The angle of pelvic lateral tilting was more decreased significantly in CHA than PHA condition. These findings suggest that CHA could be recommended as a hip abduction exercise for activating lumbar stabilizers and decreasing compensatory pelvic lateral tilting motion.