What exercise targets the lower abdominals?

Question

Regular crunches only seem to target the upper abdominals. I need to concentrate on the area just above the belly button.

Answer 1

Laying flat on the floor or a bench and lift the legs up to 90 degrees, keeping them straight, and then back down, or you could continue by lifting the hips up off the ground then lower. Also while laying on ground, lift legs and swing in a clock wise motion for a few reps then reverse, this targets lower and obliques a little.

Answer 2

As the other answer said, leg lifts from a lying-down position are very effective. Many people benefit from putting their hands under the lower part of their butt when doing leg lifts -- can help avoid back strain. Also you can lift legs up towards the sky, keeping knees about half-bent, and try to curl pelvis and low back off the floor. These are sometimes called "reverse curls". Try to go up and down as slowly and with as much control as you can on both these exercises.

Answer 3

There are tons of excercises. Here are a few;
The captains chair
extensions
inverted crunches
dumbell bends
side planks
planks

check out this website
http://blog.360.yahoo.com/blog-bCJcpYYyc6M.rBmxoZejoDyf?tag=abdominal&list=1
for more excercises and how to do them.