The first part of the articles dealing with your core addressed the primary muscles in the frontal plane of one’s body (the front). These are the Rectus Abdominus and the Transeverse Abdominus. This article is going to discuss the other major muscles of the abdomen such as the first, but this one will deal with the muscles that run along the side of one’s body the external and internal oblique. This article will also look at the primary muscles in the hips the hip flexors and hip adductors.
*External Obliques - located on the side and front of the abdomen. These will be targeted when doing a twisting movement, such as: bicycle kicks, crossing one leg over and crunching and twisting, torso twist, etc…
* Internal Obliques - located under the external obliques. Targeted in the same manner.
*Hip Flexors – located in the front of the pelvis and upper thigh. Includes the Iliopsoas, rectus femoris, and tensor fascia lata. You engage your hip flexors when you pull your knees to your chest and when doing a squatting movement. Raising your leg in any direction will also work the hip flexors.
* Hip Adductors – located inner thigh. Your adductors are worked when doing a plie squat (feet and toes out), brining your knees together, squeezing your inner thigh, etc.