Exercise Library

Rectus Abdominis Activation - Supine

Is this for yourself or for a patient?

  • HOW: Lay on your back with your knees bent and feet planted. Find your rectus abdominis muscle by palpating the bottom half of your belly. Inhale, activate the muscle, then exhale while you keep the muscle engaged. Relax completely at the end of your exhale and repeat.
  • FEEL: You should feel the oblique muscle activate and press into your fingers. 
  • COMPENSATION: Avoid using your glutes and moving your hips/sit bones lifting off the floor. Avoid hiking the hip as you activate the oblique muscle. Keep your back flat.

Turn this exercise into a full plan

Dealing with pain?

Get this exercise inside a fully guided PT program built for you, with tutorial-style video, reps, and progressions.

Explore the Prehab App

Clinician or PT?

Pull this exercise straight into a patient's HEP in Prehab Professional, with cueing notes built in.

Build Custom HEP’s