Madonna insists working out is part of her job.

The 51-year-old singer - who has previously faced criticism for her overly-toned physique - claims it is important for her to exercise regularly as she has to look as good as she can when wearing her skimpy stage outfits.

“I do it for health reasons, and for aesthetic reasons. If I have to go out on stage and, you know, jump around in a pair of hot pants I better look good and also when I perform I’m like an athlete and I have to be in good shape. I’m not panicked, I just know what my job is and I know that if I want to be able to wear whatever I want to wear on stage then my body better look good.”

It has previously been claimed that Madonna planned to “tone down” her sinewy arms. A source said, “There aren’t many women her age who have a body like that but even Madonna may have to admit this time she might have to tone it down. “She asked her trainer Tracy Anderson what she could do to stop her arms looking so sinewy. Tracy told her to do more stretching exercises to make them look leaner and Madonna has decided to follow her advice.”