Getting to the Core of Exercise

Core conditioning is a fitness buzz word these days but few are actually doing it correctly. Many confuse itwith abdominal training when in fact the core covers your body from your groin to your shoulders (front, side,back and inside-out). Your core offers stability, balance and flexibility to all your movements. An improperlyconditioned core will limit movement capabilities and predispose you to injury whether you are performingeverday activities or complex sports movements.

The aim of working the core muscles is primarly one of stabilization and coordination versus strengthening.There are many muscles in the core including the lower back, superficial front and side abdominals, deepabdominals, deep back muscles, and the hip and pelvic muscles. It is the deep muscles that usualy getnegleted. The ultimate aim of core conditioning is to insure the deep trunk muscles are working correctly tocontrol the lumbar spine during dynamic movements such as lifting a box. The deep muscles act as stabiliizersand are isometrically contracted (contraction with no movement). Thus when training your core you shouldstart with the inside and work outwards.

Exercises and products intended to train the core do so by creating resistance and instability so the coremuscles must respond to maintain balance. Core exercises often imitate moves we employ in daily life orsports, reducing the strain we put on our limbs daily. Some popular core exercises come from Pilates whichuses both the bodies own resistance as well as balance deivices such as foam rollers. The swiss ball providesan unstable platform to perform a variety of core strengthening moves on. Another newer balance and coredeveloping device is the half domed shaped Bosu. Whatever type of exercises and equipment you choosestart slowly. Even if you are a finely tuned athlete chances are you do not have a well developed core. Corestrength is important for all ages and fitness abilities. Incorporating core training into your exercise routinecan reduce muscular fatigue, avoid muscle strain and injury, improve posture and improve strength andmobility.

About the Author:

Dr. Lanny Schaffer is an Exercise Physiologist and the President of The International Fitness Academy. For more cutting edge fitness information go to http://www.aerobic-exercise-coach.com.