Abdominal Workouts and Information Menu Verywell Fit Nutrition Weight Management Nutrition Facts Nutrition Basics Diets Meal Plans Meal Delivery Services View All News Fitness and Nutrition What to Buy How We Test Products Fitness Gear Nutrition Products Tools Recipe Nutrition Calculator Weight Loss Calorie Goal BMI Calculator Body Fat Percentage Calculator Calories Burned by Activity Daily Calories Burned Pace Calculator About Us Editorial Process Meet Our Review Board Search Fitness Abdominal Workouts and Information Reviewed Verywell Fit articles are reviewed by nutrition and exercise professionals. 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 Heather Black, CPT Reviewed by Heather Black, CPT Heather Black, CPT is a NASM-certified personal trainer and owner of Heather Black Fitness & Nutrition where she offers remote and in-person training and nutrition coaching. Learn about our Review Board Updated on March 31, 2022 Ab workouts help increase core or abdominal strength, which leads to better balance and stability. Many ab workouts can be done at home and with minimal or no equipment. Ab workouts are also a staple in Pilates classes. When building your workout routine, make sure to include some ab workouts. Ab exercises can help you build a strong core, improve posture, and reduce back pain. Frequently Asked Questions How do you strengthen your abs? Performing ab exercises engages key muscles in the abdomen and helps you to strengthen your core. Examples include crunches, bicycle twists, planks, and mountain climbers. Learn More: How to Do an Abdominal Crunch What is the best exercise for abs? There are many effective exercises that target the abs. Some examples include captain’s chair leg raises, ball crunches, vertical leg crunches, reverse crunches, and planks. Learn More: Best Exercises for Core Strength What are the benefits of a strong core? A strong core is important because it stabilizes the whole body. The benefits of building a strong core include improved balance, overall functionality, and stability. Learn More: How to Engage Your Core How often should you do ab workouts? You should do ab workouts 2-3 times per week. Don’t overwork yourself by doing ab exercises daily. Learn More: 20-Minute Core Workout Can you do ab workouts while pregnant? To do ab workouts while pregnant, make sure to get your health care provider's approval. It’s usually safe to work out the abs during pregnancy, but you’ll likely have to make some modifications to each exercise to perform them safely and effectively. Learn More: The Best Exercises for Pregnancy What's the difference between lower abs and upper abs? It may seem like there is a difference between lower abs and upper abs, but there’s not. Your abdominal muscles are a group of muscles in the stomach area. There is usually less body fat in the upper region of the stomach, so the upper part of the abs may show through more easily. For this reason, some people feel the need to exercise their lower abs more often since they don’t show as easily. Learn More: 5 Facts You Should Know About Working Your Abs What is the transverse abdominis? The transverse abdominis, also known as the TVA, is a muscle located on the inside of the obliques. It’s the deepest part of the abdominal muscles and is the muscle you contract when you brace yourself for a punch. Its role is to protect the nearby organs and support the torso, spine, and pelvis. Learn More: An Overview of Ab Exercises Key Terms Core Stability Plank Obliques Crunch V-sit Core Core is another way of referring to the abdominal muscles. They’re sometimes called the core because the stomach is located in the center of the body. The word “core” also signifies the root or foundation of something, and these muscles make up the foundation of balance and stability. How to Engage Your Core Stability Core strength helps improve stability, which is a degree of being stable. Having good stability helps you to balance and prevents you from falling over or stumbling. Core Muscle Strength and Stability Test Plank Planks are classic ab workouts. You can perform a plank by getting on the floor on your toes and hands. Beginners may find it easier to modify planks by getting on your forearms and/or knees instead. Hold the position for at least 30 seconds to engage your core. How to Do a Plank Obliques Obliques are abdominal muscles located on the sides of your stomach. Some ab exercises that target the obliques include bird dog, heel taps, side planks, and bicycle crunches. Abdominal Muscles Location and Function Crunch Crunches are a go-to ab workout. They are a tried-and-true exercise that is easy to do and beginner-friendly. There are different variations of crunches, but they are always performed while lying on your back. To perform a basic crunch, bend your knees and place your hands behind your head. Use your abdominal muscles to lift your shoulders and head off the ground. How to Do an Abdominal Crunch V-sit A v-sit is an ab workout that is performed on the ground. Start in a seated position and lift your extended legs to create a 45-degree angle with your torso. This also creates a V shape, hence the name. Like planks, hold the position to work the abs. How to Do a V-Sit 4 Exercises to Help Prevent Diastasis Recti 6 Exercises to Help Heal Diastasis Recti A Simple Beginner Ab Day Workout 5 Ways to Strengthen Your Core How to Stretch Your Abs for Optimal Core Recovery 10 Lower Ab Exercises for a Stronger Core How to Do a Hollow Body Hold How to Do a Bear Plank How to Do Sit-Ups the Right Way How to Perform TRX Mountain Climbers Doing the Ab Rollout Can Strengthen Your Core Work Your Back and Core With a Renegade Row 5-Minute Daily Plank Workout An Overview of Ab Exercises 8 Battle Rope Exercises to Build a Powerful Core Learn to Safely Advance the Side Plank Exercise Mountain Climbers for Cardio and Total Body Strength How to Train the Abdominal Muscles The Best Exercises to Get Your Abs in Shape How to Reduce Abdominal Fat Through Core Exercises Simple Ways to Do More Sit-Ups The Importance of the Transverse Abdominis (TVA) Muscle Core Muscle Strength and Stability Test Work the Whole Core With Effective Ab Exercises Tips and Tricks to Uncover Your Hidden Six Pack Abs Sports to Build a Six-Pack Without Abdominal Exercises The 10-Minute Summer Ab Circuit Workout A Fast and Effective 20-Minute Core Workout Can You Keep Up With This Advanced Ab Workout? Meet Your Ab Muscles to Find Out How They Work Build Core Strength With a Crunch You May Not Have Tried Learn How to Do a Plank to Improve Core Strength How to Do Oblique Twists: Techniques, Benefits, Variations How to Do a Crossover Crunch: Techniques, Benefits, Variations Blast Your Abs With the Vertical Knee Raise Do the Alternating Superman Core Exercise for Abdominal Strength Add the V-Sit Ab Exercise to Your Core Workout Routine Target Your Abs and Obliques With the Bicycle Crunch Don't Waste Your Time With Ab Crunches—Try These Core Burners Vary Your Ab Routine With This Hip Lift Exercise When Ab Envy Goes Too Far Doing the Bruce Lee's Reverse Crunch-Style Exercise Safely 8 Ways to Get Rid of Belly Fat Work Your Core With These Creative Exercises on the Ball A 20-Minute Workout Routine to Build Rock Solid Abs No Crunch Abs and Back Workout for a Strong Core Best Standing Ab Exercises for a Strong and Stable Core Want Strong Abs Without Crunches? Try This Standing Workout Dynamic Abs Unique and Challenging Moves for Your Core 12 Great Ab Exercises to Work All the Muscles of Your Core 10 Ab Exercises That Won't Waste Your Time How to Do an Abdominal Crunch: Techniques, Benefits, Variations Why It's Not Your Fault If You Work Hard and Still Don't Have a Six-Pack Why You Should Strive for Strong and Not Just Flat Abs 5 Facts You Should Know About Working Your Abs More In Fitness Cross-Training Beginners Motivation Running Strength Walking Health and Safety Cardio Full Body Workouts Programs for Sports Flexibility Yoga Outdoor Fitness Pilates Cycling Upper Body Workouts Workout Recovery Lower Body Workouts Home Workouts Page Sources Verywell Fit 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. Frizziero A, Pellizzon G, Vittadini F, Bigliardi D, Costantino C. Efficacy of core stability in non-specific chronic low back pain. J Funct Morphol Kinesiol. 2021;6(2):37. doi:0.3390/jfmk6020037 Hsu SL, Oda H, Shirahata S, Watanabe M, Sasaki M. Effects of core strength training on core stability. J Phys Ther Sci. 2018;30(8):1014-1018. doi:10.1589/2Fjpts.30.1014 When you visit the site, Dotdash Meredith and its partners may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. Cookies collect information about your preferences and your devices and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. You can find out more about our use, change your default settings, and withdraw your consent at any time with effect for the future by visiting Cookies Settings, which can also be found in the footer of the site. Cookies Settings Reject All Accept All