CORE: WHAT DOES IT DO?

Your body’s core (stabilization system) has to be functioning optimally for balance and coordination in addition to effectively utilize strength, power, and muscular endurance.  Muscle groups are referred to as “agonist and antagonists”. That means that they work in pairs. When one muscle group becomes too strong and the “antagonist” becomes weakened it is referred to as a muscle imbalance. Muscle imbalances are a major cause of injures in athletes and the overall population.  Imbalance between your core and lower back increases risk for injury, slows rehabilitation from a back injury, and limits all your daily activities and levels of athletic performance.

Building a strong core takes more than a few crunches. It’s important to build core stability first, and then build core strength. You want to get the deeper muscles working first. When you’ve got a strong core, everything else will fit into place on top of it, meaning your overall fitness will improve, making you less prone to injury down the road. Even though it’s easy to presume that when we’re moving, our extremities do most of the work, the opposite it true: most movement starts at the center and moves outward. A rock-solid center will help ensure that your movements are strong and pain-free.

Your core also protects your inner organs and central nervous system. It’s also where your body’s largest (and most important) veins and arteries are based. Keeping strong core muscles will help ensure everything stays protected as you move through your day.

Think of your core muscles as the sturdy central link in a chain connecting your upper and lower body.  No matter where motion starts, it ripples upward and downward to adjoining links of the chain. Thus, weak or inflexible core muscles can impair how well your arms and legs function. And that saps power from many of the moves you make. Properly building up your core cranks up the power. A strong core also enhances balance and stability. It can help prevent falls and injuries during sports or other activities. In fact, a strong, flexible core lays the foundation for almost everything you do.  You are only as good as  your core!

Core stability is integral in protecting the spine and musculature from injury during movement.  In addition, core muscles help regulate posture, stabilize and balance the body and protect the back from injury.  In fact, most physical activities – ranging from competitive sports to putting away groceries – depend on a well-functioning core.  Those with weak core muscle strength are susceptible to muscle and bone injuries, poor posture and low back pain.