A Guide To Some Of The Best Abdominal Exercises

Though abdominal exercises are really effective in increasing good posture

, preventing low back pain and improving overall functioning and sports performance, they are not effective for spot reducing belly fat. So what are the best abdominal exercises for toning your core you may ask? The American Council on Exercise lists the bicycle as effective abdominal equipment that best utilizes every muscle in the abdomen to create a well-defined torso. Of course there are other exercises. Let's take a look at which ones will work for your particular needs.

You must first decide what your fitness goals are in order to determine what the best abdominal exercises will be for your needs. An example would be if someone has an achy lower back. Crunches with the feet up in the air may be the best because this exercise works the abdomen hard but does not put a lot of strain and pressure on the lower back. But, if you are an athlete who is looking for serious core strengthening, then double-hanging leg raises may be the best abs training for you.

There have been studies done to find the safest abdominal exercises that measure the work-to-compression ratio. Nine abdominal exercises were examined, and a comparison was made regarding the muscles being used to put pressure on the lower back. The study revealed that the move that worked the abs the most, yet placed the least pressure on the low back, were crunches that involved positioning the feet on a ball or bench. When the feet are raised, some of the arc in the low back is eliminated and there is less pressure on the joints. Alternatively, the stomach exercises that worked the abdominal muscles the hardest and also put the most pressure on the lower back were the double-hanging leg raises.

Have you also thought about exercises for the obliques? The muscles of the external and internal obliques tend to work the most as you move through sit ups and crunches; however, in order to maximize your workout you should also include rotation, twisting or side bends. Among the best moves for strengthening the obliques are bicycle crunches, oblique crunches and side planks.

Don't forget that any healthy exercise plan will also include nutritious meal planning, as well as dietary suggestions. Even the best abdominal exercises will not be effective if you don't combine them with other positive lifestyle changes. What is right for you may not be what is right for someone else. It is up to you to find your perfect abdominal exercise.

by: Greg Holmes.

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