| Core stabilization is a term or concept used to | | | | engage in more competitive and repetitive activities |
| describe how the muscles in your trunk work | | | | the core concept becomes more prominent. |
| together to keep your spine and body in stable | | | | 3. Balance and Coordination- Increased core strength |
| positions. Without our core muscles we wouldn't be | | | | directly benefits your sense of balance and |
| able to stand erect, throw a ball, lift an object, or an | | | | proprioceptive awareness. The higher the motor skill |
| assortment of daily activities that we take for | | | | requirements the more core stabilization becomes a |
| granted. | | | | critical component to specialized and synchronized |
| In many exercise programs that people engage in the | | | | movements. |
| concept of core strength and core stabilization is | | | | 4. Extremity control- As described above all |
| overlooked, neglected, or totally dismissed as being a | | | | movements originate at the core level. When |
| valuable part of their exercise regimes. And often this | | | | describing extremity control you always begin with |
| poses questions of, "Why do I need core stabilization | | | | core stabilization and proceed through the arms and |
| in the first place?", or "What muscles are involved in | | | | legs or extremities. When a baseball pitcher gets tired |
| core stabilization?", as well as "What exercises should | | | | his core trunk strength usually fatigues first which has |
| I add to my workouts to improve my core | | | | a direct influence on his throwing release point. When |
| strength?" | | | | a volleyball player experiences shoulder or back pain |
| And on and on.... | | | | core weakness usually needs strengthened. Track |
| Without getting boringly specific your core muscles | | | | and Field athletes sustain numerous musculoskeletal |
| include the abdominals, obliques, erector spinae (back | | | | injuries and a major cause of most of them is weak |
| muscles), latisimus dorsi, glutes, and other specific and | | | | core trunk strength. Controlling running gait |
| important supporting structures but this short | | | | biomechanics requires good core stabilization or |
| description should suffice here. | | | | chronic overuse injuries are bound to surface. |
| When your core musculature is working together as | | | | 5. Postural changes- Mom was right! "Sit up straight" |
| a functioning group you can expect to see and | | | | was often heard by most of us in our formative |
| benefit from the following: | | | | years and having a strong core will help you do just |
| | | | that. Chronic slouching doesn't have any appearance |
| 1. Injury prevention- In many competitive athletic and | | | | or functional benefits that's for certain. |
| conditioning settings this is a most important | | | | In any exercise program or sporting activity it is |
| component. Strength is critical to preventing | | | | vitally important to include core stabilization and |
| musculoskeletal injuries. Core stabilization will enable | | | | strengthening exercises as part of the warm-up and |
| you to withstand greater acute and chronic forces | | | | cool down requirements. Many required movements |
| that can become disabling. Your ability to to function | | | | and motor patterns required of your specific activity |
| at a high level will be enhanced with a reduced | | | | can be greatly enhanced or greatly inhibited |
| incident of injury to yourself. | | | | depending on the level of core stability and strength. |
| 2. Stronger and Smoother Movements- All | | | | It doesn't matter if you sit at a desk all day, drive a |
| movements that we perform originate at our core or | | | | truck for a living, or throw the discus in international |
| trunk. Most of the daily activities we engage in are | | | | competitions the core strength involved determines |
| naturally taken for granted so being core conscious | | | | much of the functional outcomes. |
| isn't something we place much emphasis on. As we | | | | |