The
abdominal muscles, or the abdominals as they are also referred to, are a group of 6 individual muscles that are connected from the pelvis of the body to different areas on the ribs. Their main function is to provide support and reinforcement to the core of the body. They also help in holding up the upper body and in keeping the body in a stable and upright posture.
The most visible one among the abdominal muscles is the rectus abdominus. Because this is the muscle that is located on top of the other abdominal muscles, it is the one most responsible for the aesthetic function of the
abdominals. Exercising the rectus abdominus results in the “6 pack” mid-section look that most people aim to get when they exercise their abdominal muscles.
The other
muscles of the abdominals are the external obliques, which are a pair of muscles; the internal obliques, also a pair of muscles; and the transverse abdominus.
The external obliques are located on each side of the body and so are the internal obliques. The main function of these abdominal muscles is to handle the rotating movement of the body along the waist. The transverse abdominus on the other hand, is the abdominal muscle that is most responsible for the overall posture of the spine and consequently, the whole body. Having strong and well developed abdominal muscles will help the body better cope with all the activities and movements that it is subjected to, from complicated actions such as those involved in sports and other recreational activities, to the most basic of movements such as sitting down and standing up.
Exercise is the best way to keep the abdominal muscles in good shape and in proper form. There are many
exercises that have been developed that focus on making the abdominal muscles stronger and therefore making the core of the body more durable and a lot tougher. These exercises can be done on a daily basis to make them more effective in strengthening the abdominal muscles.
One of the
best exercises to make the abdominal muscles stronger is the pedal exercise or the bicycle exercise. This exercise does not require any special equipment or paraphernalia. All that is needed is an open area wide enough to fit the body in a relaxed lying down position. The pedal exercise is done by simply lying on the floor and simulating a pedaling movement such as that done on a bicycle. The hands are positioned behind the head but care should be taken not to pull on the neck while doing the exercise. Upon every pedal, the right elbow is tapped to the left knee. Alternately, the left elbow is tapped to the right knee on the succeeding pedal.
The pedal exercise is a great workout for the abdominal muscles because it targets all six of
the abdominals. Best of all, it is easy enough to do everyday; either in the morning after waking up, or right before sleep.
