Muscle of the Month - The Fashion Issue!

By Susie Black - get free updates of new articles here

Rectus Abdominis

The Six Pack Muscle What are they? They're probably the most well known muscle group of all! Where are they? These muscles run from the pelvis are up towards the bottom few ribs. They're the closest of the abdominal muscles to the skin which means they're more readily visible, especially in people who have little body fat. Even though it's so visible, the lower point of the this muscle group connects very deeply into the fronts of the hip muscles.

What do they do? Considering that they're probably the most visible and recognisable muscle group, they don't do much on their own, really. The main function is trunk flexion, for example by creating a sit up move. The combination of the rectus abdominus and the very strong hip flexor muscles working together is far more powerful. Picture a sprinter in motion and you're watching these two muscle groups working in tandem through the front line of the body. For Olympic athletes AND us mere mortals, they also assist the internal and external obliques with the whole peeing, pooping, singing stuff - anytime you're forcing the tummy in tight.

How do I activate them? Lay on your back, support your head, crunch your lower back to the floor as you raise your shoulders off the floor. That's them!

Why do we need them? They oppose the muscles running along the line of your lower back and these together can help us tilt the pelvis. The Rectus Abdominis will create posterior tilt, where the pelvis is drawn forwards and upwards and the lower back appears rounded while the Erector Spinae at the back will create anterior tilt where the bottom appears to stick out behind us. This helps us control our hip position as visible from the side.