How to Engage the Transversus Abdominis?

If you’re aiming for peak athletic performance and a sculpted physique, don’t overlook the importance of the transversus abdominis muscle. It’s tucked behind your six-pack and acts like a natural weight belt, stabilizing your spine and supporting your organs.

When you engage this muscle, whether consciously during exercises like squats and deadlifts or automatically during everyday movements, you enhance your overall stability. This translates to more power and strength in your workouts, allowing you to lift heavier weights and potentially do more reps.

Targeting the transversus abdominis not only boosts performance but also aids in muscle growth, strength gains, and fat loss. Plus, strengthening it can help alleviate chronic low back pain, making it a win-win for both fitness and health.

What is the Transversus Abdominis?

The transversus abdominis is the deepest abdominal muscle, lying beneath other muscles like the obliques and rectus abdominis. It wraps horizontally around the abdomen, acting like a natural corset. This muscle is unique because its fibers run side to side. Its main job is to stabilize the spine during everyday activities like walking or sports.

Additionally, it helps maintain abdominal tension, support organs, and assist in certain bodily functions like childbirth and urination. Strengthening this muscle can protect the spine and prevent injuries.

What are the Benefits of Strengthening the Transversus Abdominis?

Strengthening your transversus abdominis offers numerous benefits:

1. Improved Core Stability: The transversus abdominis plays a crucial role in stabilizing the core, supporting the spine, and enhancing posture, which can reduce back pain and enhance pelvic floor function.

2. Reduced Lower Back Pain: A strong transversus abdominis, along with other core muscles, aids in dynamic stabilization of the lumbar spine, potentially reducing lower back pain.

3. Lower Risk of Injury: A strong core, including the transversus abdominis, provides protection during heavy lifting and compound movements, lowering the risk of back injury.

4. Potential Waist Slimming Effect: Strengthening the transversus abdominis, often dubbed the “corset muscle,” may give the appearance of a smaller waist due to its cinching effect. While research is limited, anecdotal evidence supports its effectiveness, particularly in bodybuilding circles.

However, it’s essential to note that core strengthening programs may not be suitable for everyone, such as pregnant individuals or those with chronic back pain or hernias. Consulting a healthcare provider before starting any new exercise regimen is recommended.

How do you engage the transversus abdominis muscle?

To engage the transversus abdominis muscle effectively, follow these steps:

1. Lie on the floor with knees bent and feet flat.
2. Place two fingers just inside your hip bones.
3. Take a deep breath in and exhale slowly, drawing in your lower abs and engaging your pelvic floor muscles.
4. You should feel the transversus abdominis contract under your fingers.
5. Hold this contraction for at least 10 seconds while breathing normally.
6. Practice regularly to improve engagement and incorporate it into your core workouts for better results.

Avoid the “navel to spine” cue and focus on proper breathing and pelvic floor engagement for optimal transversus abdominis activation.

Exercises to strengthen your transversus abdominis

1. Dead Bug

1. Lie on your back with your arms up toward the ceiling and your legs bent at a 90-degree angle, knees over hips.
2. Slowly straighten your right leg while lowering your left arm overhead, keeping them a bit above the ground.
3. Keep your core tight and squeeze your buttocks. Make sure your lower back stays flat on the floor.
4. Return your arm and leg to the starting position.
5. Repeat on the other side, straightening your left leg and lowering your right arm.

2. Forearm Plank

1. Get in position:
   • Place your forearms on the floor with elbows directly under your shoulders.
   • Your hands should be facing forward, keeping your arms parallel.
2. Extend your legs behind you, keeping them hip-width apart.
3. Tuck your tailbone and engage your core, butt, and quads.
4. Hold this position for a set amount of time.

3. Bird Dog Crunch

1. Get on your hands and knees, like a tabletop, with your wrists under your shoulders and your knees under your hips.
2. Stretch your right arm forward and your left leg back while keeping your back flat and hips level.
3. Tighten your abs and bring your right elbow and left knee together near your belly button.
4. Go back to the starting position by extending your arm and leg out.
5. Repeat this movement for a set time, then switch sides and do the same with your other arm and leg.

4. Hollow-Body Hold

1. Lie on your back with legs straight and arms overhead, close to your ears.
2. Engage your abs to flatten your lower back against the mat.
3. Point your toes, squeeze your thighs and glutes, and lift your legs off the ground.
4. Lift your shoulders off the ground, keeping your head neutral to avoid neck strain.
5. Your body should form a banana shape, with only your lower back and hips touching the ground.
6. Hold this position for the specified duration.

5. Pilates 100

1. Lie on your back with legs straight and arms by your sides.
2. Lift both legs toward the ceiling, then lower them halfway to a 45-degree angle.
3. Lift your head and arms a bit off the floor, keeping your palms down.
4. Pump your arms up and down while breathing in for 5 counts and out for 5 counts.
5. Repeat this breathing and arm movement 10 times, totaling 100 breaths while holding the position.

6. Plank to Side Plank

1. Start in a high plank position with palms flat, hands shoulder-width apart, and shoulders directly above wrists. Keep legs extended behind you and engage core and glutes. Feet should be hip-width apart.
2. Rotate your entire body to the right, lifting your left hand toward the ceiling as you transition into a side plank. Your right shoulder should be directly above your right wrist.
3. Hold the side plank for a second, then return to the starting high plank position.
4. Repeat for desired reps.

7. Romanian (Stiff-Leg) Deadlift

1. Stand with feet hip-width apart, knees slightly bent. Hold a dumbbell in each hand at your thighs.
2. Bend at your hips while keeping your back flat and pushing your butt back. Your torso should be almost parallel to the floor, and the weights should reach your shins.
3. Keep your core tight as you stand up straight by pushing through your heels. Keep the weights close to your shins.
4. Pause at the top, squeezing your butt. This completes one repetition.

8. Goblet Squat

1. Stand with your feet slightly wider than hip-width apart, with your toes turned out a bit. Hold a weight with both hands in front of you, hanging down.
2. Keep your core tight, chest up, and back flat as you lower yourself down by pushing your hips back and bending your knees.
3. Push through your heels to stand back up, squeezing your glutes at the top.
4. Repeat for your desired number of reps.

If you need more guidance, make an appointment with our online personal training.