Abdominal Muscles - How to Exercise Your Abs

It seems everyone who exercises is looking for the best ab-exercise routine for developing flat, tight abdominal muscles. Every year there are dozens of new exercises, fitness classes, products, gadgets or routines claiming to sculpt and strengthen the abdominal muscles like none other. And while some of these may offer a new approach to working the abs, many are ineffective and may increase your risk of injury.

To avoid falling victim to unproven and misleading abdominal exercise claims, it's important to have an understanding about the function of your abs, including where they are and what they do and how they can be exercised with the least risk of injury.

First, let's look at each of the abdominal muscles.