Lower Rectus Abdominis Exercises Using a Ball

Lower Rectus Abdominis Exercises Using a Ball
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The rectus abdominus muscles compose one long muscle sheet that extends from your rib cage to your pelvis, according to EgyptianTwist.com. Different exercises often break them into upper and lower abs, and the lower rectus abdominus, or lower abs, are a commonly targeted muscle group. Toning and tightening your lower abs can give you a thinner, leaner and healthier look.

Ball Crunch

Sit upright on the edge of a stability ball with your knees over your ankles, and your feet hip-width apart. Place your hands behind your ears and slowly lean back to a 45-degree angle, using your stomach muscles for balance. Pause for a moment, and then rise back up.

Full Ball Crunch

Sit on a stability ball, and then lean back with your hands behind your ears until the ball is supporting your entire body and your head is relaxed. Use your stomach muscles to pull yourself into a sitting position, pause for a few moments, then slowly lower back and repeat.

Ball Oblique Crunch

Sit on a stability ball and then lean back until it's supporting your lower back, while placing your hands behind your ears. Stack your knees over your ankles and put your feet hip-width apart. Use your stomach muscles to pull yourself up and to the right. Pause here, slowly lower back down to the starting position, and repeat on the left side.

Ball Rock

Lay on your floor on the back, and place a stability all between the palms of your hands and the tops of your feet. Use your core muscles for balance as you rock forward and backward, according to Strength-Training-Woman.com.

References

Article reviewed by John Hagemann Last updated on: May 26, 2011

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