The rectus abdominis muscle functions as part of the body's core muscles that help move the trunk between the ribs and the pelvis. Runners who overuse or improperly condition this muscle are at risk of injury, which could lead to a setback in...
There are four types of abdominal muscles: the rectus abdominis, transversus abdominis, external abdominal oblique and internal abdominal oblique. The rectus abdominis muscle comprises the abdominal region commonly referred to as the lower abs....
Crunches target the rectus abdominis muscle, which is one of four muscles that make up your core. The rectus abdominis muscle runs the entire length of your core. It begins at your chest and extends downward to your pelvis, and it is responsible...
Your rectus abdominis muscle sits in the front of your abdomen between your ribs and pubic bone. This muscle has a characteristic look and is commonly called "the six pack" if the abdomen is well-toned. The rectus abdominis helps your body move...
The abdominal crunch is a popular exercise, especially for those who are trying to develop "six pack" abs. Not surprisingly, researchers have found that crunches primarily target the rectus abdominis muscle, which is responsible for that six-pack...
Selecting a safe and effective abdominal exercise can be a challenge for girls. Teen magazines show many stomach exercises and television commercials promote a variety of abdominal-strengthening products. The bicycle crunch is an...
The situp is an exercise to strengthen your abdominal muscles. Whether you perform a complete situp, or lift your torso halfway into an abdominal crunch, the muscles of your stomach contract to perform the movement. Your hip flexors, located on...
Leg lifts strengthen the lower abs by stabilizing and flexing the lower part of the spine. Spinal flexion exercises shorten the distance between the bottom of your rib cage and your hips, which engages the rectus abdominis muscle. The lower abs...
Hanging exercises for the abs are a unique type of core exercise. Most core exercises involve lying on a stable floor or sitting on a stable machine, but hanging exercises put your body in an unstable position. The core muscles stabilize the torso...
Keeping your abdominal muscles, a central part of your body's core musculature, fit and toned is important for the maintenance of good posture, avoidance of low-back pain and competitive athletic performance. The incline situp, performed either...
Work the rectus abdominis muscle with ab exercises if you want to get fast results. The rectus abdominis muscle is called the abs for short. Although there are ab machines at gyms that target the rectus abdominis, you can work this muscle at home...
The rectus abdominis muscle spans the front of your abdomen, giving you a ripped, six-pack look if it's well developed and not covered by fatty tissue. You can build the muscle by performing exercises that require you to repeatedly flex your spine...
Achieving six-pack abs requires performing exercises targeting the rectus abdominis muscle on a regular basis. This muscle spans the front of your abdomen and contracts to flex your spine forward, and sometimes to control the speed of movement...
Many women experience abdominal diastasis in the later stages of pregnancy. Abdominal diastasis occurs when there is a split between the two sides of the rectus abdominis muscle. The rectus abdominis is the muscle group closest to the skin. It...
The main muscles involved in back extensions are the erector spinae, and the antagonist muscle group for these muscles is the rectus abdominis. These muscle groups work in concert to flex and extend the trunk. In back extensions, a strong rectus...
Stomach crunches target the rectus abdominis muscle of the abdominals to give you a six-pack, but the best thing about crunches are that there are many different ways to do them. The floor crunch, reverse crunch and side crunch all hit the rectus...
Improve your balance and posture by doing ab exercises that target the small, deep muscles of your abdomen without bulking up the rectus abdominis muscle. The rectus abdominis muscle is the superfical ab muscle that has been nicknamed the six-pack...
Because of the myriad confusing equipment advertisements and commercials, it’s difficult to decipher what type of exercise activities will help you reach your weight-loss goals. Understanding why weight loss occurs will help you make choices...
An effective abdominal exercise for toning is one that is best able to recruit the rectus abdominis muscle, which is the primary abdominal muscle that runs down the front of your torso. This is the muscle, that when defined, displays a six pack....
If exercising your abs at the gym is what gets you motivated, then take advantage of the weight machines and gym equipment. Exercises like crunches and leg raises that you can do at home on the floor or a ball may be done at the gym with added...
There are so many ways to strengthen your stomach muscles with core training exercises. The best exercises are the ones that work for you. When choosing which exercises to try, keep in mind that there are actually four muscles in your stomach. The...
As men age and their metabolisms slow, they tend to store their fat in their stomachs. Increased belly fat increases the risks of heart disease, diabetes and certain cancers, according to the article "How to Lose Your Spare Tire" in "AARP"...
Abdominal exercises will trim and tone the stomach. A healthy diet and an active lifestyle are also helpful for maintaining a trim waistline. The National Heart, Lung and Blood Institutes (NHLBI), for example, have samples of low-calorie diets on...
Your abdominal muscles support your body as you move throughout the day. Your rectus abdominis is the muscle you see when viewing an abdominal "six pack." This muscle responds to exercise with improved strength and you can perform stomach...
Stomach crunches, also known as abdominal crunches, are an exercise used to isolate and develop the abdominal muscles. The use of a foot holder during a crunch does not play a role in the effectiveness of this exercise. You could wear a blue...
While men usually worry about love handles, women tend to focus on losing the lower belly pooch. The lower abdominal is actually one section of the rectus abdominis muscle, the largest of the abdominal muscles. Working the lower part of this...
The Ab Lounge 2 is a piece of exercise equipment designed to work your entire midsection without the pain and discomfort of traditional floor exercises such as crunches and sit-ups. You can perform several different exercises on the Ab Lounge 2,...
If you want to flatten the bottom portion of your stomach, it will take more than one abdominal exercise. Your rectus abdominis muscle runs across the front of your stomach from your ribs to your hips. Targeting just the lower part of this muscle...
It's common to train the abdominal muscles and neglect the back extensors and quadratus lumborum. The resulting imbalance contributes to lower back pain. Also, the connective tissue that surrounds the abdominal muscles extends into the diaphragm...
Strengthen your ab muscles. Learn exercises and stretches for your workout routine in this fitness video.
Pulled back muscles can be debilitating for an athlete. Learn how to treat a pulled back muscle from a certified personal trainer in this health video.
Learn about different trigger points for massage in this free video clip on holistic medicine and chiropractics.
The ab tuck using a stability ball will work the abs in the center of the stomach. Learn how to do ab tucks using a stability ball from a certified personal fitness trainer in this exercise video.
