From the Latin abdomen, the abdomen is a concept that refers to the belly. In mammals, it is the body cavity that is limited by the diaphragm or the set of viscera of said region. In humans, the abdomen can also name the adiposity, or fat belly prominent.
Abdominal, on the other hand, is that belonging to or related to the abdomen. We have, in this way, the abdominal fins, which are located in the abdominal region and correspond to the posterior extremities of terrestrial vertebrates.
The abdominal aorta is the part of the aorta that runs from the diaphragm opening to its bifurcation. On the other hand, abdominal typhus or typhoid fever is an intestinal infection that is caused by a microbe that causes lesions in the lymphatic plates of the small intestine.
An abdominal ultrasound is an imaging procedure used to examine the internal organs of the abdomen, such as the liver, spleen, pancreas, gallbladder, and kidneys.
Finally, abdominal exercises are routines of physical activities that are performed with the aim of toning the muscles of the area. Before toning, it is necessary to eliminate the fat that covers these muscles, through aerobic exercise and a healthy diet.
There are different types of exercises, according to which muscles you want to tone. Thus, they can work the lower abs, the obliques and upper abs.
The interested party can carry out activities such as trunk lift with or without support, abdominal knee pull, suspended knee lift, lateral tilt and pelvic rotation.
Dangerous abdominal exercises
There are a number of abdominal exercises that pose a risk to the body, since they are not based on the shape and physiology of the abdomen; these are dangerous combinations of movements that result in unnatural efforts and that, as expected, do not give the expected results. As if that were not enough, the abdomen is not the only affected area, since the neck and back are also involved in the process.
In principle, let’s review the most common abdominal exercise: it consists of lying down and putting the legs in a fixed position, holding the head with your hands and raising the trunk until the knees touch the chest. In general, it is indicated to repeat this last movement ten times or more and take a short break, to restart and thus carry out as many sessions as possible. However, this series of steps, so common to many people, contains certain errors that can have an impact on relatively serious injuries.
Analyzing this exercise part by part, we first notice that the legs must remain fixed. When working with a companion, the latter supports the other’s feet to prevent them from getting up; in the opposite case, a way is sought to attach them to some piece of furniture or a special machine for this purpose. The question that arises is “why is the legs given so much importance in an abdominal exercise?” This “precaution” can affect the hips, since it blocks their rotation when raising the trunk.
Finally we have the neck; the hands must accompany the head during the flexion, and in no way must they exert force on the nape of the neck. The latter is what beginners commonly do, especially when fatigue prevents them from continuing but they refuse to rest. It goes without saying that exerting unnecessary force on the spine represents a great danger, so it is recommended to place your hands at the sides of the ears.