Well first of all, the term lower abs is a misnomer. The rectus abdominus is a single muscle that runs from the breastbone to the pubic bone. The so-called "sixpack" is not the result of having many strong muscles in your abdominal area, but rather the effect of strength-training just that muscle. The "sixpack" is simply a curiosity of the abdominal muscle's unique structure.
As youngsters, we naturally held our stomachs flat. Ever notice the swayback gait of toddlers? As children mature their center of gravity changes and they learn to walk without that concave posture, holding their stomachs in and their spines straight.
As we age, the muscles that support the abdominal region lose tone and the result is a sagging gut. Especially after childbirth, women find the ligaments in their abdomen have stretched so out of shape that they have a hard time regaining their original contours. And some men think once they're married, they can let go that top jeans button, a la Homer Simpson. (You know who you are!)
But people should be loved for themselves, not their bodies, right? Well, the problem is that the abdominal area is the support system for the upper body. Your body was not meant to walk upright without that supporting "girdle" keeping your innards in place. When we let our abdominal muscles weaken, everything inside begins to slide down and forward. When the abs are weak the rib cage tends to sag as well, which leaves less room for the heart and lungs to function normally. This weakness and lack of support can lead to other problems, especially for women.
Abdominal weakness throws a lot of unnatural strain on the lower back. Trainers are taught that if a client complains of lower back pain and a doctor has been unable to determine a specific cause, then the trainer should focus on strengthening the client's abs.
How's your ab workout?
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