The myth of ripped abs

Not many people stop to think about their abdominal muscles and how they are made up. It’s much more common to think of them in terms of how we want them to look, hence the ever-popular term “six pack.” The reality is that this thinking and lack of understanding of abdominal composition leads to what is actually a myth, that having a “six pack” means you have strong abs.

The abdominal muscles are no different than any other muscle in your body, they need to be worked and targeted to strengthen them effectively. It is very important to take into account the majority of the muscle group. The abdominals are made up of 4 muscles, rectus abdominis, external oblique, internal oblique, and transversus abdominis, listed from superficial to deep. The irony of the proverbial “six pack” is that it is the development of the rectus abdominis, the most superficial, and I would say the most insignificant of the abdominal muscle group.

The action of the rectus abdominis is the flexion of the spine, also known as the ever popular stomach contraction. To really create a strong abdominal core, it’s very important to focus on the other three muscles that make up your abs. These muscles are responsible for rotation, spinal stabilization, good posture, and breath control.

So as you work toward your fitness goals, I encourage you to focus on more than just the superficial abdominal muscle. I don’t blame you if you still want that “six pack.” You can have that too, but it will be much more worth it with the deeper support he needs from the other three abdominal players. Strengthening the deeper muscles will have an impact on your athletic performance and quality of daily life.

If you’re looking for ways to learn exercises to tone these other muscles, consider Pilates or work with an athletic trainer who has specific core training.