Lower abdominal exercise

[NordicMan]

I am wondering how you folks work your lower abdominals.



I was doing situps, which seemed to work my abdomen. This apparently strengthened the upper abdomen and the obliques(something I did helped the obliques). However, it also strengthened the ilio psoas muscles inside, and this seems to have been hard on my back. I am rehabilitating from a back injury.

I need to work my lower abdomen, and it seems like it is difficult to feel my lower abdomen working hard. Sometimes I think static holds do as much good as anything.

That article that is on here, by the Navy seal, I thought that was pretty good. I don't have a workout partner to help with those static resistance exercises(or that wheelbarrow dropping idea) do. I wish I had some kind of a cable machine, although that may get at the upper abs more, and still leave me with a need to exercise the lower abs.

[greemah]

How about planks (or weighted planks if bodyweight is easy for you), a few months ago I started doing these (two sets of 1 min) and feel them fat more in my lower abs then anywhere else

[MNparisect]

Leg raises. Lay on a flat bench, grab the bench behind your head (your going to half to scoot down the bench a bit) and left your legs to your head. You can also do this while holding a barbell like your doing a bench press and bring your legs to the left/right/center of the bar.

[MNparisect]

Im sure it has a specific name but I just call them Ab leg raises.

[NordicMan]

Thank you gentlemen. I was doing those sort of leg raises that you are talking about, MN parisect. The physical therapist I saw said to me that this more exercised the upper abdomen. She thought it exacerbated another problem that she thinks I have. I was enjoying doing them, however, for now I have stopped, as this particular physical therapist has been quite perceptive about a number of things I do, and her remedies have been helpful. Her idea of me needing more control(over the lower abdomen) makes sense. When you can feel the muscle working, so that you obtain more control over it, then you are better able to work it. given that you find exercises that task it. Maxick was all about that. The therapist, she thinks that doing situps, but without anchoring my feet, that this will be good, if I learn to tense the lower abdomen. I said my torso was too heavy, as I have always had difficulty doing a sit up without my feet secured. She said "That's because you are weak." She did allow as t hat my upper abdomen had some strength, but she says my problem is needing the lower abdomen to get strong.

For planks, thanks greemah, I am going to have to look at some videos of what you are talking about. I know the article that the SEAL had was pretty good, especially this message about abdominal strength being to support your body, and so that is how these seals exercised.

I think a cable system would be helpful for me.