Abdominal Workout Exercises Anatomy

This is a complete list/menu of Abdominal exercises for men or women. If you need to discuss how to perform these Abdominal exercises please post them in our Exercise Forum under the heading of the exercise.

Abdominal Workout Exercise Links Muscle Menu

Abdominal Isolation Exercises
Abdominal Compound Exercises
Dumbbell Abdominal Exercises
Barbell Abdominal Exercises
Cable Abdominal Exercises
Ball Abdominal Exercises
Calisthenics Abdominal Exercises
Machine Abdominal Exercises
Abdominal Exercises / Muscle Forum Discussions
Abdominal Workout and Exercise Programs

Picture

Name of Exercise

Muscle Groups

Medicine Ball Woodchoppers on Exercise Ball- Abdominal Exercise: Begin this wood chopper exercise with the medicine ball to your side while sitting on an exercise ball with your feet at a 90 degree angle to the floor. Begin to raise the ball up...

Abdominal, Abs, Serratus Anterior, Medicine Ball, Exercise Ball, Core Strength, Stability, Compound, Upper Body, Home,

Exercise Ball Abdominal Russian Twists- Abdominal Exercise: This is an advanced abdominal exercise that is performed by starting with a dumbbell above your head with your arms in a locked position. With your hips up and the ball in the mid...

Abdominal, Abs, Stabilizers, Dumbbells, Exercise Ball, Swiss Ball, Core Strength, Torso, Upper Body, Freeweight,

Exercise Band Ab Ball Crunches- Abdominal Exercise: Begin the exercise band abdominal ball crunches by grabbing an exercise band and then lying supine with your hips as high as possible. Now begin to lean your entire body forward u...

Abdominal, Abs, Upper Abdominal, Exercise Band, Elastic Band, Exercise Ball, Home, Upper Body,

Twisting Crunches- Abdominal Exercise:
Start with lying on your back with your knees at a ninety degree angle and your hands by your side or behind your head for support. Now slowly lift your torso in a diagonal fas...

Abdominal, Belly, Stomach, Isolation, Abs, Calisthenics, Bodyweight, Home, Core Strength, Upper Body, Washboard,

Crunches- Abdominal Exercise: Crunches are taught many different ways, but there is a consistant element. Start with lying on your back with your knees at a ninety degree angle and your hands by your side or b...

Abdominal, Belly, Stomach, Isolation, Bodyweight, Home, Core Strength, Calisthenics, Upper Body,

Weighted Cable Ball Crunch- Abdominal Exercise: Start by leaning backward on the ball and grabbing a cable. Now with your body firmly planted on the ground for support, raise the weight and complete a crunch (as shown). Breath...

Abdominal, Belly, Stomach, Isolation, Calisthenics, Core Strength, Body Weight, Upper Body, Washboard, Cable,

Ball Crunches- Abdominal Exercise: Lie back on a big ball with your shoulder blades on the ball, with your hips level with the ball slowly roll up contracting your abs (as shown). Slowly return to the starting posi...

Abdominal, Belly, Stomach, Isolation, Calisthenics, Core Strength, Bodyweight, Home, Upper Body,

Bridge- Abdominal Exercise: Start with your body raised off the ground clenching your abdominals. Now hold your body in this position for 30-60 seconds. This is usually a sports specific exercise used where...

Abdominal, Belly, Stomach, Isolation, Static, Core Strength, Upper Body,

Side Bridge- Abdominal Exercise: Start by lying on a mat with your legs straight out. Turn sideways holding your body up with one bent arm parallel to the floor. Keep your abs tight until 30-60 seconds. A great...

Abdominal, Belly, Stomach, Obliques, Calisthenics, Core Strength, Static, Upper Body,

High to Low Woodchoppers- Abdominal Exercise: Start by standing perpindicular to the cable machine while the cable is place in the top position. Now with both hands, grab the cable and bring it across your body from the top t...

Abdominal, Belly, Stomach, Serratus Anterior, Cable, Core Strength, Isolation, Upper Body, D-Handle,

Low to High Woodchoppers- Abdominal Exercise: Stand upright with the cable perpindicular to your foot. Now with two arms grab the weight and use ONLY your abdominals to do the twisting. You may find that your shoulders are d...

Abdominal, Belly, Stomach, Serratus Anterior, Cable, Core Strength, Isolation, Upper Body, Washboard,

Cable Crunches- Abdominal Exercise:
Attach a rope to a high pulley. Grab the ends of the rope in each hand and kneel down in front of the pulley. Your hands should be at the sides of your head. From this posit...

Abdominal, Belly, Stomach, Serratus Anterior, Isolation, Cable, Rope, Upper Body,

Ball Rollout- Abdominal Exercise: Start with the ball infront of you and with your hands on the ball. Now lower your body by rolling the ball out keeping your abs tight and as stabilizers so you dont fall. Once y...

Abdominal, Belly, Stomach, Serratus Anterior, Isolation, Calisthenics, Bodyweight, Home, Core Strength, Upper Body,

Pelvic Thrust- Abdominal Exercise: Start by lying down on a mat and raising your legs to 90 degrees. Now with your arms at your side raise your pelvis up while trying to keep your legs perfectly vertical. This is ...

Abdominal, Isolation, Calisthenics, Bodyweight, Home, Core Strength, Lower Body,

Abdominal Barbell Rollouts- Abdominal Exercise: To begin Abdominal Barbell Rollouts kneel in a pushup position with your hands shoulder width (or wider) on a barbell. With your arms almost locked out on the bar push the bar ahe...

Abdominal, Lower Abdominal, Belly, Stomach, Back, Latissimus Dorsi, Core Strength, Calisthenics, Body Weight, Compound, Upper Body,

V-Up- Abdominal Exercise: Start the V-Up by lying flat on a mat and then raise both your legs and arms together while keeping them as straight as possible. Keep your lower back as straight as possible as w...

Abdominal, Lower Abdominal, Belly, Stomach, Hip Flexors, Calisthenics, Bench, Bodyweight, Home, Core Strength, Washboard, Upper Body,

Jack Knives- Abdominal Exercise: This exercise can be performed with your knees bent or kept straight. Lie on a bench with your lower body not on the bench. Complete a crunch and bring your knees and shoulders t...

Abdominal, Lower Abdominal, Belly, Stomach, Hip Flexors, Calisthenics, Core Strength, Isolation, Bench, Upper Body, Washboard,

Air Bike- Abdominal Exercise: Start with your back flat on the ground. Now raise your opposite arm and leg together (as shown). Repeat side to side until a complete set is finished.

Spotter Informat...

Abdominal, Lower Abdominal, Belly, Stomach, Hip Flexors, Isolation, Calisthenics, Bodyweight, Home, Core Strength, Upper Body, Washboard,

Lying Leg Raises / Throwdowns- Abdominal Exercise: Start by lying on a mat with your legs straight out. Lift your legs straight up using only your abdominals and hip flexors. Lower your legs down without them touching the ground....

Abdominal, Lower Abdominal, Belly, Stomach, Lower Back, Hip Flexors, Core Strength, Washboard, Upper Body,

Exercise Ball Medicine Ball Throw- Abdominal Exercise: The medicine ball throw is a great exercise to increase your speed and distance with any type of throwing (ie. Baseball Players). To begin this exercise start by lying supine on a...

Abdominal, Lower Abdominals, Abs, Six Pack, Baseball, Upper Body, Compound, Medicine Ball, Exercise Ball,

Medicine Ball Ab Wood Choppers- Abdominal Exercise: To begin this wood chopper exercise start in a squat position holding a medicine ball at your side with two hands. Now explode upwards bringing the medicine ball across your body ...

Abdominals, Core Strength, Arms, Medicine Ball, Plyometrics, Hockey, Golf, Transverse Abdominals,

Twisting Leg Raises- Abdominal Exercise:
Hang from a chin-up bar or some gyms have benches specifically made for hanging leg raises. Raise your knees up as high as you can in a diagonal fashion (bringing one knee towa...

Lower Abdominal, Abdominal, Belly, Stomach, Hip Flexors, Isolation, Calisthenics, Bodyweight, Upper Body, Washboard,

Ball Knee Crunches- Abdominal Exercise: Start with your body cradled over the ball and then roll your body out with your hands. Have your knees (or feet to make it harder) on the ball. Now bring the ball in using your ...

Lower Abdominal, Abdominal, Belly, Stomach, Hip Flexors, Isolation, Calisthenics, Core Strength, Upper Body, Exercise Ball,

Abdominal Dragon Flags- Abdominal Exercise: Begin abdominal dragon flags by lying down on a bench as shown with your arms above your head holding onto the bench. Now bring your entire lower body up towards the ceiling until ...

Lower Abdominal, Abdominals, Abs, Calisthenics, Bodyweight, Home, Stomach, Stabilizer, Core Strength, Hip Flexors, Bench,

Roman Chair- Abdominal Exercise:
Hang from a chin-up bar or some gyms have benches specifically made for hanging leg raises. Raise your knees up as high as you can, curling your pelvis forward. Hold the posi...

Lower Abdominal, Belly, Stomach, Hip Flexors, Isolation, Calisthenics, Bodyweight, Upper Body, Washboard,

Exercise Ball Abdominal Leg Raises- Abdominal Exercise: The exercise ball leg raises exercise can be performed by having an exercise ball between your legs gripped tightly by your ankles. Begin by raising your legs straight upwards kee...

Lower Abdominal, Hip Flexors, Abs, Isolation, Core Strength, Belly, Stomach, Six Pack,

Exercise Ball Oblique Twists- Abdominal Exercise: Start the exercise ball oblique twists by holding an exercise ball above your head and then proceed to come upwards using your abdominals and obliques to bring the medicine ball in...

Oblique, Abdominals, Transverse Abdominals, Abs, Six Pack, Medicine Ball, Home, Isolation, Advanced, Core Strength, Exercise Ball,

Cable Side Bends- Abdominal Exercise: Start by grabbing a cable with your torso bent to the side as shown. Now raise the weight and use your opposing oblique muscle to do the action of contracting. Exhale until you a...

Obliques, Abdominal, Belly, Stomach, Cable, Isolation, Upper Body,

Dumbbell Side Bends- Abdominal Exercise: While standing with one both arms at your side grab a dumbbell with one arm and then lower the weight as shown. Now with your obliques raise the weight to until you are crouched o...

Obliques, Abdominal, Belly, Stomach, Dumbbell, Isolation, Upper Body,

Ball Side Crunches or Bends- Abdominal Exercise: Start by draping yourself over the ball front first. Then slowly staggar your legs front to back as shown while putting your obliques on the ball and trying to put your hands over...

Obliques, Abdominal, Belly, Stomach, Isolation, Calisthenics, Bodyweight, Home, Core Strength, Upper Body,

Abdominals or Abdominal Muscle Anatomy and Overview

Abs, abdominal, abdominals, Rectus Abdominis, gut, six pack, eight pack, washboard, waist, belly, Core Strength, stomach, Lower Abdominals anatomy picture

Abdominals is perhaps the most important muscle group to train. Strong abdominal muscles means a stronger back and more powerful overall physique.

Abdominal Function

The function of the abdominals is spine or lumbar flexion.

Abdominal Origin

The origin of the abdominals originates on the pubis crest.

Abdominal Insertion

The insertion of the rectus abdominis is onto the ribs(5th, 6th, and 7th) as well as onto the Xipoid Process.

Abdominal Training

There are many exercises which train the abdominals, this muscle group contains many slow twitch muscle fibres and training depends on the purpose of the training program. For example, if one was losing fat on their belly they would train their abs three times per week with resistance allowing adequate time for recovery.

Abdominal Other/Similar Names

Other names for this muscle group or similar muscle groups referred to the 'Abdominal' are: Abs, abdominal, abdominals, Rectus Abdominis, gut, six pack, eight pack, washboard, waist, belly, Core Strength, stomach, Lower Abdominals

Oblique or Abdominal Muscle Anatomy and Overview

Love Handles, Oblique, Obliques, Abdominal Sides, Muffin Top, Belly, Stomach, Upper Body anatomy picture

Obliques are the trouble spot for most, if not everyone. They can be a pain to try and reduce the overall size.

Abdominal Function

The function of the oblique muscle is for spine flexion, rotation, and lateral flexion.

Abdominal Origin

The origin of the oblique is on the Ilium and the 5th-12th Ribs.

Abdominal Insertion

The oblique muscle inserts onto the rectus abdominis fascia and the Ilium.

Abdominal Other/Similar Names

Other names for this muscle group or similar muscle groups referred to the 'Abdominal' are: Love Handles, Oblique, Obliques, Abdominal Sides, Muffin Top, Belly, Stomach, Upper Body

What if I have fatty Abdominal? What exercises can I do to reduce fat on my Abdominal muscle?
Spot reducing is a common conception to reduce the fat on a specific area. Ie. Abdominal. You cannot spot reduce, but you can: Follow six rules to nutrition, incorporate HIIT and complete a ciruit training program 4-5 days a week to reduce your overall body fat and eventually reduce the fat in your Abdominal. In other words, specifically exercising your Abdominal will not directly decrease the overall fat around the muscle. Also if you are suffering from muscle cramps, please read about what causes muscle cramps.

What can I do for Abdominal Pain?

Abdominal pain can be caused by many things:

1. A strained/pulled muscle, tendon or ligament from too much exercise or improper lifting.
2. A torn muscle, ligament or tendon from improper lifting, exercising or stretching.
3. Overuse of the Abdominal muscle.

Note: If pain in your Abdominal muscle persists please consult a doctor immediately.

Abdominal
Plyometric Exercises

Image	Name of Plyometric	Muscle Group
	Seated Twists: Start with a medicine ball infront of your body. Bring the ball to one side and other side quickly and controlled. This exercise is great for developing core strength....	Abdominals, Obliques, Upper Body, Core Strength, Stabilizers
	Stablizing on the ball: This exercise is used for refining stabilizer muscles in the abdominals. Start with the ball under your knees while holding on to something, then let go and try and bala...	Abdominals, Stabilizers, Isokinetic
	Ball to Ball Twists: This exercise is especially good for developing core strength. Start back to back with a partner. Have one partner with a medicine ball pass the ball to the side while the...	Core Strength, Abdominals, Obliques, Upper Body
	High to Low Medicine Ball Twists: This exercise is great for any sport involving twisting at the waist, or developing core strength. Ie. Hockey Start with a partner and stand back to back with one of the ...	Serratus Anterior, Abdominals, Anterior Deltoid, Shoulders, Biceps Brachii, Obliques, Core Strength

Abdominal Pilate Exercises

Image	Name of Pilate	Muscle Group
	Overhead Leg Handstand: Start by lying face up and then bring your legs up to a 45 deg angle (straight legs) now slowly bring them all the way behind your head while stabilizing with your arms. Now, brin...	Abdominals, Hamstrings, Biceps femoris, Latissimus dorsi, Back, Upper Body
	Roll Out : Back Stretch: Start in a ball position with your arms on the ground and your knees into your chest. Now extend your body all the way until your flat on the ground (complete this very slowly). ...	Abdominals, hip flexors, Biceps femoris, Hamstrings
	One Leg Raises (or with circles): Start by lifting one leg and having it straight over your body at ninety degrees. Now lower your leg without it hitting the floor and return to the starting position. You can als...	Abdominals, Hip flexors, Rectus femoris, Thigh, Upper Body
	Bicycle Kick (45 deg): Start by raising one leg to 45 degrees (straight leg). Now bring your other leg in tight to your body while holding your knee with your outside arm and your inside arm holding you...	Abdominals, Hip flexors, Rectus Femoris, Thigh, Upper Body
	Torso Slouch or Spine Stretch: Start by sitting up straight and having your legs far apart and arms out parallel over the ground. Now slouch completely and stretch out with your arms while tucking your head inb...	Abdominals, Latissimus Dorsi, Teres major, Back, Rhomboids, Upper Body
	Open Leg Rollover: Start by lifting your legs to ninety degrees (as shown). Now with your abs tight bring your legs behind your head with your legs straight. Open your legs and return to the starti...	Abdominals, Lower Abdominal, Hip flexors, Latissimus Dorsi, Back, Upper Body
	Double Leg Roll Up (hard): Start by sitting down with your feet together (like a groin stretch) now grab your ankles with both hands and while balancing on your bum (you should be in a v sit). Now lower you...	Abdominals, Lower Abdominal, Hip flexors, Stabilizers, Rectus Femoris, Thigh
	Full Situp (Roll Up): Start by stretching your body flat on the ground. Raise your arms straight up over your head while coming up slowly to eventually touching your toes. This exercise should be perf...	Abdominals, Lower Abdominal, Hip flexors, sternoclideomastoid, Neck, Upper Body
	Alternate Foot Hold: Start by sitting in the upright position with your back straight and arms out to the side. Now with your opposite arm of your leg, touch your toes and repeat with the other arm. ...	Abdominals, Lower Abdominal, Obliques, Serratus anterior
	Leg Kicks : Start with your body in a pike position with your legs slightly out to the front. Now bring your one leg behind your body (staight leg) and then bring it foreward all under contro...	Abdominals, Lower Abdominal, Rectus Femoris, Thigh, Hip Flexors, Leg
	Arm Flutter (with legs raised): Start by lying down flat and then lift your legs while keeping them straight. (45 degree angle) Now raise your torso slightly and lift your arms keeping them straight and complete...	Abdominals, Shoulders, Anterior Deltoids, Rectus Femoris, Thigh, Upper Body, Lower Body
	Body Roll: Start in a ball and keep your head inside your knees. Now balance on your bum while working your abdominals. Start this exercise by rolling backward balancing on your spine now r...	Abdominals, Stabilizers, Upper Body

Abdominal Stretches and Flexibility Exercises

Image	Name of Stretch/Flexibility Exercise	Muscle Group
	Abdominal Lat Stretch: Start by draping yourself sideways on the ball as shown. Place the top leg forward and bottom leg behind for balance, now with the bottom hand for support place the top hand over ...	abdominals, latissimus dorsi, obliques, serratus anterior (Back)
	Abdominal / Ab Ball Stretch: Start by sitting on the ball then roll out on the ball. Now place the ball in the middle of your back and gently lean back until you feel the stretch. If you have any back proble...	abdominals, serratus anterior (Shoulder), Abs, Core, Upper Body, Stabilizers
	Abdominal Twists- Dynamic Stretch: To perform the abdominal twist exercise begin with a broom, wide grip bar, hockey stick or something alike behind your head with your hands resting on top. Begin twisting ...	Abdominals, Spinae Erector, Obliques, Stabilizers, Core Strength

Add Comments
Name	Comments	Will need to be approved to post