RBS FITNESS MYTH #5:
Updated: Oct 7
'Draw your abdominals in to build a stronger healthier core"
This one isn't very hard to prove. Have someone hit you in the stomach and see what your natural instinct is, or try to draw in. Bottom line, is it's not going to work out to well for you. And if that somehow offended you go ahead and perform a weighted squat while trying to keep from bracing or drawing your abs outward. It's nearly impossible.
I could have picked several squat variations to make the point, but I decided to elect one that is still relatively unknown or underrated.
Simple reason being what's called "The Valsalva Manuever Reflex." This innate action ensures the spine stiffens and increases Intra-abdominal pressure to not only protect the precious spine, but also to support the limbs to draw more force and power to help you move. The glottis in your throat is closed if you hold your breath, or can open up "slightly" if you want to breath outward forcefully (i.e. pursed lip breathing).
Where I suppose the whole misunderstanding occurred is decades ago when Australian researchers concluded that the TVA muscle was the first to contract during any movement. As a result, the industry took this info and ran with it, calling for draw-in practice to facilitate the use of the TVA, but this isn't possible in the real world as you've clearly seen. The TVA still activates strongly when you brace or perform "fat abs" with the the co-contraction of your lower back muscles, so you don't ever need to worry.
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