Every movement you make originates from the torso or centre of your body. Having strong arms and legs is useless if the trunk they are attached to isn’t equal or greater in strength.
Your sense of balance also relies on a strong “core,” which are the muscles in your mid-body (trunk or torso). Stronger core muscles also contribute to good posture.
If the muscles of your trunk aren’t strong enough, you may suffer from chronic back pain, easily lose your balance and fall, or be at greater risk for injury when doing other activities. Doing core exercises regularly can improve your performance, not just in your exercise activities, but your everyday actions as well.
Strengthening your core muscles involves exercises or activities that require a collaborative effort of several muscle groups, all which work together to stabilize the body. This can be achieved by using specialized equipment, such as balance boards, stability balls, or Bosu balls (a vinyl dome that resembles a ball cut in half).
These add extra challenge to the core muscles through the simple act of balancing or stabilizing yourself. This allows your joints and muscles to work together as they do in your daily activities, such as the balance required while walking upstairs with bags of groceries.
Exercises without equipment are also effective. Many of the movements in yoga, Pilates and Tai Chi are effective for core strengthening – like the plank, a Pilates exercise. And there are many other “core” training exercises. Consult with a Certified Personal Trainer or Certified Fitness Instructor for more ideas and the proper technique for the exercises.
Get to the core of any physical weakness simply by building stronger core muscles.
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Eve Lees has been active in the health & fitness industry since 1979. Currently, she is a Freelance Health Writer for several publication and speaks to business and private groups on various health topics.