What Do I Need To Do To Build Muscle Around My Ribs?

Question

My ribs are the only part of my body I would say that are not protected by muscle. I have access to weights and anything else I would need but I don't know how I would build muscle in that area. Does anyone know something I can do?

Answer 1

first, there are intercostal muscles, which are between the ribs. i don't think there's really any direct way to exercise them, but they help in moving the rib cage during respiration. based on that, i would guess that doing aerobic exercises would help strengthen them. i'd vary it up between steady state and sprints.

as for over the ribs themselves, the first layer of muscle would be the serratus anterior, and over them would be the pec major and minor. all of these muscles are utilized when you do a hugging motion with your arms (or something similar to throwing a hook punch). anyways, the best way to develop those would be to do dumbbell bench press. it'll allow you to recruit all of the muscle fibers because you'll have to stabilize the dumbbell without extra help from your other arm.

hope that helps!

Answer 2

1

Answer 3

Pushups. But in a special way. Draw your hands inward and down, until they are halfway between your head and waist, and make sure they touch your torso. This may seem awkward and hard to do at first, especially if you have little rib area muscle, but you'll get used to it. As for weights, have two weights in each hand, stretch your arms out to either side, lift and lower slowly with your arms straight. Good luck.

Answer 4

thats because the function of the ribs is to protect the organs! just some fat can be used there but not really muscle.