Abdominals and the Core

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When we talk about abdominal muscles most of us will immediately think of the ‘6 Pack’, which is well known for its aesthetic appeal. However, the abdominals are far more complex than this and absolutely vital when it comes to pain free movement.

Four muscles make up our abdominals and they are each important in their own way. Together these muscles allow us to support and move our trunk. They help keep our bodies stable and balanced and are crucial for protecting our spine and helping to keep us free from injury.

The 4 abdominal muscles are:

Rectus Abdominis

As mentioned above, this is commonly referred to as the ‘6 Pack’. It is the most superficial layer of all of the abdominal muscles (not in that it is unimportant, but that it is the muscle nearest to the surface of the body). This is the muscle we can feel hardening if we tense our stomach and which allows us to bend forward and stabilise our pelvis as we walk.

Transversus Abdominis

This is the deepest abdominal muscle (which we discussed in detail in our Core Strength blog). Because it is so deep set, we can’t always feel this muscle working, however it works at a low level constantly throughout the day to help us maintain good posture.

Internal and External Obliques

Both the internal and external obliques are found at the side of the abdomen. The internal obliques are located directly under the external obliques and both connect the ribcage and the pelvis. These muscles allow us to bend side to side and rotate our upper body.

As well as the glutes and lower back muscles, these four abdominal muscles make up our core. It is vital that we strengthen each of these in their own way to ensure healthy and balanced movement and good posture.

During our Pilates sessions, we will be working each of the abdominal muscles by working through different planes of movement including forward flexion, side bending and rotating. We’ll work at different levels, building up gradually to strengthen, which will help prevent injury and improve posture as well as toning up that 6 Pack!