CORE(‘Kor): “the central, innermost, or most essential part of anything” www.dictionary.com

• The muscles associated with CORE Stability are muscles that link the trunk-abdominal region to the shoulder girdle and pelvic region. 
• When people hear the word CORE they normally think about the abdominal region of the body; however, CORE stability actually involves all of the muscles that stabilize the torso, the muscles that maintain the position of the scapula, as well as the lower body muscles that stabilize the pelvis.
• The combination of all the stabilizer muscles of the body working in good order creates a strong CORE and a stable base.

WHY DO WE WANT TO STRENGTHEN OUR CORE? 

• Exercising the CORE muscles helps stabilize the torso and create a strong base to transfer forces applied to the body in everyday life. 
• Having a strong CORE helps maintain proper posture in sitting and standing positions.  This will prevent neck and back pain commonly resulting after sitting hunched over a computer for long hours, standing with an enhanced lumbar curve, or subconsciously leaning to one side in either sitting or standing positions.
• Maintaining a strong CORE helps prevent injury in sport as well as everyday life due to the body’s ability to effectively transfer force.
• Having a weak link in the body is just like having a faulty foundation board in a building.  Once force is applied to that building it will collapse because of the one weak link, the same theory applies to the body and associated injury.
• A common injury associated with poor CORE strength is lower back pain.  This is because the abdominal and hip muscles are supposed to work with the lower back to withstand forces applied to the body; however, very often these muscles are not strong enough, which causes the lower back to take more strain than it can handle and usually results in overuse and injury. 
• Poor CORE strength in combination with muscular imbalances (tight/weak muscles) can also be the culprit in causing pelvic misalignment pre-disposing people to hip, foot, or knee pain. 
• Strengthening and learning to properly “engage” your CORE musculature will increase postural awareness and in turn decrease the risk of injury in the future.

AVOID INJURY ASSOCIATED WITH POOR CORE STRENGTH BY LEARNING HOW TO PROPERLY “ENGAGE” AND STABILIZE YOUR CORE.  ATHLETE OR NOT, CORE AWARENESS IS FOR EVERYONE!!

Email Michelle@CORE-Condition.com for more information and tips on how to begin training your CORE strength and stability.

Michelle Roots BA Kin, CSCS, PES

www.CORE-Condition.com