Orthopedics Physical Therapy Exercises 3 Abdominal Exercises for Physical Therapy By Laura Inverarity, DO Laura Inverarity, DO Laura Inverarity, PT, DO, is a current board-certified anesthesiologist and former physical therapist. Learn about our editorial process Updated on January 02, 2022 Medically reviewed Verywell Health articles are reviewed by board-certified physicians and healthcare professionals. These medical reviewers confirm the content is thorough and accurate, reflecting the latest evidence-based research. Content is reviewed before publication and upon substantial updates. Learn more. by Laura Campedelli, PT, DPT Medically reviewed by Laura Campedelli, PT, DPT LinkedIn Laura Campedelli, PT, DPT, is a physical therapist with experience in hospital-based acute care and outpatient therapy with both children and adults. Learn about our Medical Expert Board Fact checked Verywell Health content is rigorously reviewed by a team of qualified and experienced fact checkers. Fact checkers review articles for factual accuracy, relevance, and timeliness. We rely on the most current and reputable sources, which are cited in the text and listed at the bottom of each article. Content is fact checked after it has been edited and before publication. Learn more. by Heather Mercer Fact checked by Heather Mercer Heather Mercer is native to Northwest Ohio (go Walleye!) and graduated from Loma Linda University with two doctorate degrees (psychology and public health). She is currently a professor at Owens Community College, as well as a fact-checker for Verywell Health. She has gained experience in a variety of settings, ranging from corporate wellness and preventive medicine, to mental health, chronic disease, and end-of-life care. Learn about our editorial process Print The anterior abdominal muscles are made up of four muscle groups. These muscles are the rectus abdominis, transversus abdominis, internal oblique, and external oblique muscles. This group of muscles helps to stabilize the trunk, provide organ stability, and assist in flexion and rotation of the trunk. Strengthening these muscles helps support the body's frame and may decrease back pain and injuries. By keeping your abdominals strong, you can help support your back and limit the amount of stress placed upon your spine. If you have back pain, check in with your physical therapist (PT) and learn what you can do to comprehensively treat your pain. Your PT can help you find the best exercises for you, and he or she can help you attain and maintain good posture to keep your spine in its optimal position. Before starting any exercise program for your back, you must check in with your healthcare provider to ensure that exercise is safe for you to do. Abdominal Crunches for Your Abdominal Muscles Verywell / Ben Goldstein Abdominal crunches are a great way to strengthen your core muscles without placing too much stress on your lower back and spine. Here is how you do a proper crunch: Lie on your backBend your knees to a comfortable positionLock your fingers behind your head or cross your arms in front of your chestCurl your head, shoulders, and upper back off the floorKeep your lower back in contact with the floor; you should only rise up a few inchesBreathe out as you riseHold this position for three secondsSlowly return to starting positionRepeat 10 more times If you feel any back pain while you are performing the crunch, you must stop and check in with your healthcare provider or physical therapist. Low Ab Leg Raises Verywell / Ben Goldstein The low abdominal leg raise is a challenging, but effective, way to strengthen your lower abdominal muscles. Here is how you get it done: Lie on your backBend your knees to a degree that is comfortable for you. The straighter your legs are, the harder the exercise will be.Contract your abdominal muscles to lift your feet off the floor in an arc-like motionLift your feet about 10 inches upSlowly (in the same arc-like motion) return your legs/feet to the floorRepeat 10 more times Be cautious to avoid any strain to your lower back while performing this exercise. If you do feel pain, stop and check in with your personal healthcare provider. Twisting Sit-Ups Verywell / Ben Goldstein These twisting sit-ups are a great way to get your obliques into the action and working properly. Here is how you do them: Lie on your backBend your knees to a comfortable positionLock your fingers behind your headCurl your head, shoulders, upper and lower back off the floor and angle your left elbow toward your right kneeBreathe out as you liftHold this position for 5 secondsSlowly return to starting positionCurl your head, shoulders, upper and lower back off the floor and angle your right elbow toward your left kneeHold this position for 5 secondsAgain, breathe out as you liftSlowly return to starting positionRepeat 10 more times alternating your twisting motion Keeping your abs working properly is a great way to stay in shape, and by regularly exercising and maintaining proper posture for your back, you may be able to stave off any attacks of back pain or sciatica. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Get exercise tips to make your workouts less work and more fun. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit 1 Source Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Stuber KJ, Bruno P, Sajko S, Hayden JA. Core stability exercises for low back pain in athletes: A systematic review of the literature. Clinical Journal of Sport Medicine. 2014;24(6):448-456. doi:10.1097/JSM.0000000000000081