What do abdominal muscles do

The external oblique muscles allow the trunk to twist, but to the opposite side of whichever external oblique is contracting. For example, the right external oblique contracts to turn the body to the left internal oblique muscles — these flank the rectus abdominis and are located just inside the hipbones.

They operate in the opposite way to the external oblique muscles. For example, twisting the trunk to the left requires the left side internal oblique and the right side external oblique to contract together. Core muscles Think of your core as a strong column that links the upper body and lower body together.

Effective abdominal exercises When you decide to add some abdominal exercises to your exercise program, be careful about which ones you choose. Some effective abdominal muscle training methods include: Pilates pronounced Pi-lah-teez is an exercise technique traditionally used by dancers for deep-body conditioning and injury rehabilitation. The stability ball or fitball, Swiss ball or exercise ball is an extra-large, inflatable ball designed to improve balance while targeting specific muscle groups.

You can use exercise balls in a variety of ways to challenge balance, stability and torso strength. Muscle strains You can strain your abdominal muscles from overstretching or overuse. The deep abdominal muscles, together with muscles in the back, make up your core muscles. Your core muscles help keep your body stable and balanced, and protect your spine. Muscle strains can be prevented by regular stretching, warming up prior to exercise and cooling down afterwards, and keeping good form while playing sport.

Cramps and stitches, Australian Institute of Sport. More information here. Give feedback about this page. Was this page helpful? Yes No. View all bones muscles and joints. Related information. It is a short muscle on the flat of the hand. The muscle begins at the flexor retinaculum in…. The movement of the upper arm and shoulder is controlled by a group of four muscles that make up the rotator cuff. The largest and strongest muscle in….

The extensor pollicis longus muscle begins at the ulna and the interosseous membrane, a tough fibrous tissue that connects the ulna and the radius in…. The biceps brachii, sometimes known simply as the biceps, is a skeletal muscle that is involved in the movement of the elbow and shoulder.

It is a…. The skeletal system is the foundation of your body, giving it structure and allowing for movement. Health Conditions Discover Plan Connect. Read this next. Supraspinatus Medically reviewed by the Healthline Medical Network. Quadratus plantae Medically reviewed by the Healthline Medical Network. Depressor labii inferioris Medically reviewed by the Healthline Medical Network. Quadriceps femoris Medically reviewed by the Healthline Medical Network.

Palmaris brevis Medically reviewed by the Healthline Medical Network. Subscapularis Medically reviewed by the Healthline Medical Network. Strong internal oblique muscles reinforce the erector spinae fascia and pull it laterally. This reinforced fascia is therefore more efficient in supporting the spine. Thus the importance of working the oblique muscles for improved low-back health is justified.

Partial sit-up or crunch exercises, with the knees flexed and ankles unsupported, are the best for strengthening the abdominal muscles, without risk to the lower back Mutoh et al.

Great point. Most instructors do predominantly spinal flexion movements for the core of their abdominal workout. A balanced approach of spinal flexion, rotation, and lateral flexion in the backlying position is recommended.

You should emphasize the involvement of all the abdominal muscle groups for abdominal shaping and low-back health reasons. Perform 8 repetitions of each exercise before going on to the next exercise. Every weeks, you are advised to vary your workout refer above for ways in which to vary your program. Strive for quality of movement with each contraction. Also, visualize your abdominal muscles contracting tighter with each exercise, stressing the importance of the contraction. Slow and controlled movement is always best.

During all exercises for which you need to support your head, do so in a comfortable manner that does not allow you to force your chin towards your chest. Although the abdominals are a troublesome spot for many people, the knowledge and tools you now have, will, with hope, highlight your abdominal exercise workout, while helping you achieve your health and fitness goals. Article Pag e. Some exercises may actually lead to lower back pain, and do little to strengthen the abdominals. The purpose of this manual is to provide accurate, useful information and exercise guidelines for abdominal training.

In addition, several myths and misconceptions about abdominal training will be dispelled. Low back pain syndrome 4th ed. Philadelphia: F. Davis Company. Flint, M. Electromyographic study of abdominal muscular activity during exercise. Research Quarterly, 36, Floyd, W. Electromyographic study of patterns of activity of the anterior abdominal wall muscles in man.

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An electromyographic investigation of the rectus abdominis in abdominal exercises. Research Quarterly, 42, Hay, J. The anatomical and mechanical bases of human motion. Englewood Cliffs: Prentice-Hall, Inc. Katch, F. Effects of sit-up exercise training on adipose cell size and adiposity. Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport, 55, Kendall, F.

Muscles and testing function 3rd ed. Laban, M. Electromyographic study of function of iliopsoas muscle. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, 46, Libetz, S. An electromyographic study of four abdominal exercises. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 2, Kinesiology 8th ed.

Mutoh, Y. The relation between sit-up exercises and the occurrence of low back pain. Baltimore: University Park Press. Partridge, M. Participation of the abdominal muscles in various movements of the trunk in man.

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