23/06/2025
The Transverse Abdominis is the deepest of the abdominal muscles, and plays a vital role in the stabilisation of the core (and whole body!) and protection of the lower back from harm.
It attaches to the lateral inguinal ligament, iliac crest, thoracolumbar fascia and the internal surfaces of the lower six ribs, and it inserts onto the re**us sheath to the linea alba. In short, it is extensive and acts like a corset around the abdomen, resulting in it being a major stabiliser of the back.
If this muscle is not working to its most optimum then it can cause serious dysfunction within the body, with the result being that you could experience lower back pain, and the potential for other soft tissue complaints in different areas of the body, due to compensation patterns. It can also hinder sporting performance if it is not firing correctly, due to how it stabilises the body when performing movements.
‘Traditional’ exercises for the Transverse Abdominis include exercises such as the plank. If you are new to exercise or are in the early stages of your rehabilitation plan, then I suggest that this exercise is a little too advanced, as it can put unnecessary pressure on the lower back if it isn’t performed correctly.
As time progresses though, the Transverse Abdominis needs to be trained in unison with other muscles to truly integrate it, and to encourage global stabilisation in the body. However, like most muscles you need to ensure that you know how to engage it before you integrate it into the ‘bigger’ more complex movements.
Do you know how to engage and train the Transverse Abdominis and core muscles? Do you suffer from lower back pain and don’t include Transverse Abdominis exercises into your routine or think crunches are the answer? If you answered yes to any of the above, then now maybe the time to get in contact.....
