Exercise description of the abdominal side to side touch.  Learn about the abdominal side to side touch with videos, pictures, and other sports information.  Also learn how the abdominal side to side touch can improve your sports performance.

Primary muscles worked:  Obliques

Synergist Muscles:  Rectus Abdominus

Mechanics:  Isolation

Equipment:  Open Floor Space

How to perform the exercise:   The athlete should have a seat on the floor, with legs almost in full extension and heels on the ground. The athlete will lean back about 45 degrees. The athletes arms should be together and the athlete should rotate at the trunk and twist and touch the ground to the left and the twist to the other side and touch the ground directly to the right of the athlete's body. This exercise will utilize the oblique muscles for the actual twisting motion of the exercise.

Spotting the exercise:  The spotter should make sure the athlete maintains correct body position during side to side touches.

Sport specific application:  Side to side touches are a great exercise for sports that require great rotational strength. For example hitting in baseball requires great rotational strength which could be improved with the utilization of the side to side touches exercise. Other sports that might benefit include football, tennis, hockey, and lacrosse.