Abdominal bracing is the process of quickly activating all of your core muscles and sucking in your stomach. You then hold this tightness while you perform a particular exercise motion. This action creates a lot of pressure in your abdomen and prevents you from loosely moving this part of your body.

Abdominal Bracing is simply tensing (contracting) the abs as if you are about to be hit in the stomach. Bracing the abs will automatically pull in the stomach slightly, but abdominal bracing does not involve pulling or pushing out the abs. Abdominal bracing activates all the layers of abdominal muscles along with muscles deep in the lower back.

Bracing refers to an isometric contraction of the TVA by contracting the muscles of the abdomen and holding them tight without movement. When bracing, imagine that you are getting ready for a punch to your belly, or preparing to lift a heavy object. The goal is to tighten the muscles without sucking in, or expanding your abdomen.

What does bracing your abs mean? Abdominal bracing means using your core muscles to support the spine and stabilize the torso during exercise 1. Through activation and diaphragmatic breathing, your spine does not move at all during exercise. Technically, it’s not just your ab muscles that are active during abdominal bracing.

Abdominal Bracing is when you contract the core and its surrounding muscles. This maneuver also activates the Erector Spinae which will engage to protect the lower back. Abdominal Bracing is important when we are lifting heavy weights to protect the spine from injury and avoid flexion or extension of the spine.