The Importance of Core Strength and Stability
What are the Core Muscles?
The core are one of the most active muscle groups in the body. Whether you are walking, running, playing tennis, or even the simplest of daily activities such as putting the groceries away, you are engaging your core muscles. You need core strength. They are a complex series of muscles that surround the spine and abdomen acting as a powerhouse to stabilise the entire body. Many people equate the core with their abdominal muscles, but your core is much more than that. Yes it includes your abdominal muscles such as transverse abdominis, obliques, rectus abdominis, but also your back muscles such as multifidus, erector spinae, pelvic floor muscles, and your gluteus muscles.
Why Should you Strengthen the Core Muscles?
While it may be good motivation, wanting to showcase your abs during the summer months isn’t the only reason to strengthen your core. Remember, it is your body’s powerhouse, and therefore affects all aspects of your daily life. Below are the most important reasons for improving your core strength and stability:
Improve over fitness level
Improve sports performance
Help prevent injuries
Improve body alignment and posture
Help reduce back pain
Improve balance and stability
How to Gain Core Strength
People tend to look for instant results when it comes to building core strength and thus jump into core exercises that are far too advanced for them. True core strengthening is not as easy nor as quick as people may believe. The core needs to be looked at as a skill set that needs continual practice and time to see improvement. There are a number of beginner exercises that can be completed to help build core strength and stability, here are ten of our favourite:
Plank
Sit Up
Bridge
Bird Dog
Bicycle Crunch
Oblique Reach
Knee Fold Tuck
Side Balance Crunch
Dead bug
Superman
It should be noted how important correct technique is, to not only maximise efficiency of the exercise, but also to prevent injury. If you would like to speak with one of our chartered physiotherapists to review or correct your technique, we would be happy to assist so feel free to get in touch with us! In addition, Pilates is a great way of building core strength. Here at Ballsbridge Physiotherapy Clinic, we offer a range of pilates classes for various levels and injuries. Our classes are kept small, with a maximum of six in each class, and all are taught by a chartered physiotherapist. If you wish to know more about our classes, please get in contact with us, and we will invite you in for a pre-pilates assessment to ensure your suitability for the class.