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Stomach exercise
Most of us have done stomach exercises since junior school - remember those old fashioned sit-ups under the watchful eye of a stern PE teacher? Fortunately stomach exercises have moved on considerably since those days.
In fact, stomach exercises have become a key part of the fitness industry - re-branded as 'abs workouts' they are a multi-million dollar business world wide, helping to sell everything from diets to workout programs.
However, at their simplest, abs workouts need to achieve one thing - strengthening the muscles of your abdominal area. There are actually four main muscles in this area:
- Rectus Abdominis: The muscle most people think of when they work their abs. This long muscle extends along the front of the abdomen, and is what you see when your 'six-pack' is visible.
- Transverse Abdominis (TVA): A deep lying abdominal muscle which acts like a weight-lifting belt, providing protection and stability for your spine.
- Internal and External Obliques: These muscles are to be found on the side and front of the abdomen, around your waist. Twisting motions activate them.
You will also see articles which talk about upper and lower abs, but these are simply different areas of the Rectus Abdominis - the difference lies in which area a particular movement works.
To successfully work this area you need to perform a variety of exercises, from straight crunches through to twists and planks.
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