3 Functions of the Abdominal Muscles – How They Really Work!

2010 April 7
by


With so many gadgets and gizmos bombarding our television, internet, and health clubs, how do you know what exercises work the best for abdominal schooling?  In order to know which exercises we should do we need to know how the abdominals really work.  This condition outlines the purpose of the abdominals and what they were designed to do.

The abdominal muscles provide 3 basic functions: stabilization, rotation, and deceleration.  Let’s look at each of these individually.

1.  Stabilization:  We all know that in order for a tree to withstand powerful winds it must have a strong trunk.  This allow for the branches to go in the wind and yet the tree stands firm and rooted.  Our abdominals are no different than the trunk of a tree.  It is no wonder that we oftentimes refer to the abdominal muscles as our trunk. 

When the abdominals narrow it helps to stabilize and stiffen our trunk so that our arms and legs can go their gathering.  With weak abdominals we run the risk of injuries to the back and the extremities.  Many times I have seen injuries to athletes that resulted from weak abdominal (core) muscles.  Once excellent stability was reestablished, the athlete’s injury was able to heal.

2.  Rotation:  I reckon this is one of the most evident ones.  Our abdominal muscles rotate our trunk.  Forceful rotation of the trunk, shoulders and arms comes from the hips and abdominal muscles.

3.  Deceleration:  The abdominal muscles slow down rotation, side bending, and most importantly, hyperextension of the back.  For example. you are playing basketball and your team mate throws the ball above your head.  You reach up to grab the ball and are forced to bend backwards.  If your abdominals are strong enough you will be able to avoid doing a back handspring and folding in half. 

Abdominal muscles also help to slow down rotation of the legs.  There is some evidence (and my private opinion) that a strong core can help to prevent ACL injuries.

So dredge up, don’t waste your time with machines and exercises that don’t train the abdominal muscles the way they were designed.  Now that you have a better understanding of how the abdominal muscles truly gathering, it will be simpler to design a schooling curriculum that is effective. 

If you’ve found this condition helpful, please visit the Interval Schooling Guide website for more tips, assets and schooling routines to help you get the abdominal muscles that you want.

Aaron is a Qualified Might and Conditioning Coach and Qualified Powerful Trainer. He specializes in the rehabilitation and schooling of injured athletes to arrange them for full participation in their sport. If you found this condition useful visit http://www.IntervalTrainingGuide.com for more assets.

Author: Aaron Ivey
Condition Source: EzineArticles.com
Provided by: Canada duty rates





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