Core strength and the role it plays in our bodies and overall health
When I say “core strength” I know exactly what picture came to your mind, a six-pack. And although chiseled abs look great and having toned abdominal muscles make us feel good about ourselves, it is important to note that it doesn’t translate into a “strong core”, and having a strong core doesn’t necessarily mean that you will have a six-pack.
It’s not about the power
The group of muscles we collectively call “The Core” stabilize the body like the strong foundation of a building. They surround the spine, line the pelvis, and support the lungs.Therefore we can see what an important role the core plays in our bodies.
From upright posture to aligned hips to efficient breathing, they’re all in the scope of “Core Strength”. Our core governs the acts of sitting, standing, walking, singing, bending, and lowering ourselves to and from the floor, they even play an important part in going to the loo. Whether you are an average person or an elite athlete, we all need a functional core. Without it, our bodies will be a host to a lot of pain and injuries.
What kind of exercise is good for my core?
If you think gym training, running, swimming or cycling can train your core you may want to think again. The core muscles are designed to activate with conscious and subtle movements that require little force. If you use too much force or do mindless repetitions, you can easily lose the core connection. This is because larger muscles can easily take over (in fact that’s often the case) and diminish the delicate movements that activate all your core muscles.
The importance of having a strong core
Movements of the trunk originate from spinal mobility. How easily the spine can flex, extend or rotate is dictated by the core muscles. All these actions define whether a person has a strong posture or the opposite – a collapsed posture, this is almost always due to the lack of core muscle support.
Because the trunk connects the head, arms, and legs, the efficiency of the core in moving the spine directly affects the functionality of movements in the periphery. Therefore a more efficient core means the shoulders can perform better and arms get more range of motion, the hip joints function smoothly with greater mobility, the pelvis can stabilize the lower back and the neck can easily support the weight of your head.
When it comes to athletes, more efficient movement means improved performance, chronic injury prevention, or bouncing back faster from acute injuries. Without a strong core, runners may risk back and neck injury due to imbalanced load transference. When the pelvic stability is compromised knee pain or low back pain can result.
Pilates – one of the best forms of exercise to build a strong core
Practicing Pilates or similar mobility methods put a lot of emphasis on engaging deep core muscles and engaging efficient breathing. The benefits of pilates when it comes to human movement are enormous.
If you wish to discuss how Pilates can radically improve your core and posture, regardless of your fitness level. Contact me today.
