Abdominal exercises are an essential part of our strength training workouts. Building a powerful core is important to our overall health and fitness. There is not any debate here. But many of us have been misled about which abdominal exercises are the most highly efficient for building core strength. Many common and conventional abdominal exercises that we have done for years are not as effective, and can be also. Here are a few commonly used exercises that we should avoid.
Crunches/Sit-ups . These are maybe the most commonly practiced of all abdominal exercises. Quite honestly, they are not very effective. In addition, they're risky. Crunches and situps require us to perform spinal flexion movements, which may result in back injuries.
Gym Machines . There all all sorts of abdominal machines in gyms nowadays. Crunch machines, cable machines, the list goes on and on. Stay clear of every one of them. I hesitate to describe this equipment as worthless. But these machines are close. They do not help you to build core strength.
Gadgets . It is tough to turn on the TV without seeing some advertisement for a new gizmo that that will give you 6-pack abs in only two weeks. We've got the Ab-Rocker, the Ab-Buster, and who is able to say what else. Please don't squander your money on any of this stuff. But there is one exception. The Abdominal Rollout Wheel. This is a wonderful and extraordinarily challenging exercise.
So , what are the best exercises to build abdominal and core strength? First, bracing your core during all of your compound exercises (squats, lunges, dead lifts, push ups, bench press, shoulder press) is fantastically effective. Abdominal bracing takes some practice. Target tightening your abdominals as if you are on the point of being punched in the belly.
Also, there are lots of safe and extremely effective exercises that target your abdominals. Planks, mountain climbers, leg raises, jackknives, and rollouts are all superb exercises to incorporate in your exercise routines.
Crunches/Sit-ups . These are maybe the most commonly practiced of all abdominal exercises. Quite honestly, they are not very effective. In addition, they're risky. Crunches and situps require us to perform spinal flexion movements, which may result in back injuries.
Gym Machines . There all all sorts of abdominal machines in gyms nowadays. Crunch machines, cable machines, the list goes on and on. Stay clear of every one of them. I hesitate to describe this equipment as worthless. But these machines are close. They do not help you to build core strength.
Gadgets . It is tough to turn on the TV without seeing some advertisement for a new gizmo that that will give you 6-pack abs in only two weeks. We've got the Ab-Rocker, the Ab-Buster, and who is able to say what else. Please don't squander your money on any of this stuff. But there is one exception. The Abdominal Rollout Wheel. This is a wonderful and extraordinarily challenging exercise.
So , what are the best exercises to build abdominal and core strength? First, bracing your core during all of your compound exercises (squats, lunges, dead lifts, push ups, bench press, shoulder press) is fantastically effective. Abdominal bracing takes some practice. Target tightening your abdominals as if you are on the point of being punched in the belly.
Also, there are lots of safe and extremely effective exercises that target your abdominals. Planks, mountain climbers, leg raises, jackknives, and rollouts are all superb exercises to incorporate in your exercise routines.
About the Author:
Scott Jones is the author of the Strong 'N Lean beginners workout blog. Many fitness and nutrition subjects are addressed, including the correct way to structure strength training workouts.