Increasing width

Side bends, overhead bends (hold DBs over your head and bend to the side).
 
Interesting you should say that Cynic, since I was basically slammed in another thread for saying pretty much the same thing! :)
 
What thread?

Ah, I see it. It may not apply toward men, though. I'll ask bip about. Women have a difficult time putting on muscle mass because they don't have enough natural testosterone for muscle growth.

I'm pretty sure most men won't get huge abs, but the obliques are different. The one of the main, if not the main, function of the rectus abdominus is to keep the insides in (was well as stabiizng the upper body under load). The obliques do a similar function, for stabilaization, but also rotation.

Your abdominal wall is really three walls:...outer layer (external obliques), middle layer (internal obliques) and inner layer (transverse abdonimus). They're anchored at the back to your spine...

While each has it's own duties, the key is that all work together to protect your spine and internal organs.

Lou Schuler, "New Rules of Lifting"

In terms of protecting the spine, that means preventing hyperextension, over rotation and over flexion.
 
Thank you :]
 
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