CORE STABILITY
Understanding the Core and ‘Core Stability’
What is the Core:
In general when the term ‘Core Stability’ is used in relation to back-pain it describes the groups of muscles that form the trunk of the body.
The diagrams represent the large muscle groups involved in producing a stable core (global muscles), however, there are many small muscles around the vertebra which help to produce stability at each vertebrae of your spine (Local muscles).
This makes stability of the spine a challenging task because the muscle groups act over many joints; these muscles have different roles depending upon the task.
Research has indicated that no single muscle group is superior in stabilising the spine and it suggests that a global approach may be the most beneficial approach to increase ‘Core Stability’.
A well-functioning core combined with a good posture has the potential to;
Reduce back pain
Prevent potential back pain
Reduce re-occurrence of back pain
What to do to increase ‘Core Stability’;
There are hundreds of variations of core stability exercises, it is recommended that during such exercises you contract your core meaning tightening your abdominal and back muscles, at the same time as contracting your pelvic floor (imagine try to stop yourself from urinating, that’s the same contraction we are aiming for). Focus on keeping the core stable and a slow and controlled movement.