An exercise to strengthen the abdominal muscles and reduce the risk of backache or back stiffness, e.g., during pregnancy. The patient kneels on her hand s and knees, hollows her back and pushes out her abdomen while inhaling, and arches her back like a cat and contracts the abdominal, gluteal, and levator muscles while exhaling. The exercise can be done while stand ing with the hand s on the knees. The effects are maximized by concurrent abdominal breathing.

SEE: pelvic tilt.