What is core strength training? Most people think of exercises that work the abdominals such as crunches and sit ups. The core however is much more than that and consists of all the muscles that stabilize the pelvis. It is the center of gravity and where all our movements begin and end. The muscles that make up the core control our movements in all directions. Proper core strength training can relieve low back pain, prevent injury, and improve your overall muscular balance.
Your core consists of stabilization and movement muscles, which initiate and maintain proper muscular balance during all movements. You use your core muscles during all movements, including common daily movements and physical activity. Develop your core strength and you will improve your physical well being whether you are climbing stairs, picking up objects, walking, running or weight training.
If your stabilization system is week, your other muscles will compensate for most movements leading to muscular imbalance, pain, and worst of all injury. To develop a truly strong core a good core strength training program should target both the stabilization and movement system.
Stabilizer muscles include the deeper layer of muscles which include internal obliques, lumbar multifidus, pelvic floor muscles, diaphram, transversus abdominis, and transversospinlis. The movement muscles include the erector spinae, latissimus dorsi, iliopsoas, hip abductors, hip adductors, hamstrings, external obliques, and rectus abdominis.
Most core strength training routines neglect the stabilization system which is why so many people experience low back pain among other types of pain. Core exercises that target the stabilization system can greatly improve your overall fitness, low back pain and make everyday movements more efficient and pain free.
Core strength exercises such as crunches and sit ups target the movement muscles. It's important to strengthen these muscles but performing them without first building stability can lead to injury. They can actually place too much pressure on the discs of the spine if your stabilizers are week and lead to serious pain and eventually injury to the spine.
Having strong abdominals does not mean you have a strong core. Even those who have a six pack may experience low back pain and other types of injury due to the fact that they have week stabilizing muscles. You have to properly train the stabilization system as well as the movement system.
Exercises that target the stabilization system include the bridge, plank, marching and cobra. Exercises that target the movement system include crunches, sit ups, bicycle crunch, leg raises, reverse crunches and back extensions. There are many variations for these exercises. Combine one from each in your core strength training program for the best results.

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