Physical Therapy Abdominal Exercises

3 Abdominal Exercises for Physical Therapy

Updated on July 07, 2022

Medically reviewed by Mohamad Hassan, PT

Fact checked by Heather Mercer

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 back
Bend your knees to a comfortable position
Lock your fingers behind your head or cross your arms in front of your chest
Curl your head, shoulders, and upper back off the floor
Keep your lower back in contact with the floor; you should only rise up a few inches
Breathe out as you rise
Hold this position for three seconds
Slowly return to starting position
Repeat 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 back
Bend 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 motion
Lift your feet about 10 inches up
Slowly (in the same arc-like motion) return your legs/feet to the floor
Repeat 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 back
Bend your knees to a comfortable position
Lock your fingers behind your head
Curl your head, shoulders, upper and lower back off the floor and angle your left elbow toward your right knee
Breathe out as you lift
Hold this position for 5 seconds
Slowly return to starting position
Curl your head, shoulders, upper and lower back off the floor and angle your right elbow toward your left knee
Hold this position for 5 seconds
Again, breathe out as you lift
Slowly return to starting position
Repeat 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.

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