- How many ab muscles do you have?
- Can you target them?
- Does it work?
Some people will tell you that there are separate upper and lower abdominal muscles. This is technically not correct. Your abdominal muscle, the rectis abdominis, is a group of muscles that are all connected to each other.
But that’s just one part of the whole story.
So, does targeting your upper and lower abs separately make a difference? Can you really exercise for lower abs?
Well, the jury’s still out on that one. But, scientific studies have shown that some workouts work your lower abs better than others, while some are better suited for developing the upper abs.
As far as exercise for lower abs goes, scientists at the University of Nebraska deduced that the reverse curl causes the greatest amount of activity in the lower abdominal region, while movements such as the trunk curl and twist curl seem to target the upper abdominals more effectively.
However, an interesting thing to note is that, according to recent physical therapy research, only some people actually have a distinctly separate lower abdominal muscle, called the pyramidalis. This means that lower abdominal targeting may only be effective for people who have this optional muscle – about 80% of people.
Most fitness experts do not recommend doing anything special to target the lower abdominals, but, instead, alternating between different types of movements that work the midsection. This should ensure a proper workout of all of the abdominal muscles that you DO have.
Great exercise for lower abs can be any of the following:
- Curls
- Crunches
- Bicycles
- Sit Ups
Of course, the discussion of upper and lower abs and who has them and whether they should be targeted obscures the advice that fitness specialists have been giving us for years.
Ab targeting is still an important consideration, but not quite as important as proper diet.
It doesn’t matter how much you work your abs if they’re covered in fat. Following a low fat diet and performing regular cardio workouts, such as walking or running is the most important part of any ab training routine. With this added to your fitness regimen, the fat will be melting right off of your belly.
So, eat right, stay fit, and perform a regular exercise for lower abs. Keep it up, and keep at it. Soon you’ll be stronger, healthier, and have abs that will make people stare, in a good way.
Which exercise do you find most effective for your lower abs? Share your opinion below.