Final answer:
The abductor machine operates by pushing the user's thighs outward, working primarily the gluteus medius and gluteus minimus to abduct the femur at the hip.
Step-by-step explanation:
The abductor machine at the gym targets the thigh muscles by pushing both thighs outward, separating your knees as far apart as possible. This movement involves the abductor muscles of the thigh, primarily the gluteus medius and gluteus minimus muscles. These muscles are key in abducting the femur at the hip, which means to move it away from the body's midline. In contrast, the adductor muscles work to pull the thighs inward. The main adductor muscles include the adductor longus, adductor brevis, adductor magnus, and the gracilis.
When using the abductor machine, you are not lifting your thighs upward or downward, nor are you bringing your knees together, which would be an action of the adductor muscles and suited for a different machine, often referred to as the 'adductor machine.'