Rehabilitation Exercises >> Back & Spine: Level 1 Back Exercises >>Abdominal Strengthening

Abdominal Strengthening

These exercises should only be performed after evaluation by a qualified medical professional and under their instruction. Failure to properly ascertain the reasons for certain injuries or the causes of pain may lead to further injury if these exercises are performed.

Should you experience pain or discomfort while doing an exercise, stop immediately. Follow only the exercises that your doctor has recommended to avoid the potential of further injury.

Purpose

To strengthen abdominal muscle.

Steps

1. Lay on your back with knees bent. Place a towel in the small of your back. Keep your lower back pressed against the towel.
2. Tighten abdominal muscles and hold.
3. In one continuous move, slowly straighten left leg, pause, and then bring it back to the starting position. Do the same with right leg. Let your heels slide across the floor.
4. Maintain tightened abdominals as you alternate legs.
5. Repeat 5 times.

Tips

• When unable to keep pressure on the towel with your lower back, Stop.