
Your core is critically important because it has TWO main functions:
First, the muscles in your core, protect your spine from bearing an excessive load and help you with certain “functional” movements. Try standing up from a chair without using your hands—this is a functional movement. In order to do this, you must tighten the muscles of core (both anterior and posterior) and then push with your legs—again not using your hands! This requires a degree of core strength. Now try making your seat lower and do the same thing, this requires more from your core. The lower you go, the more that is required. This is a squat!
How about if you are picking up something off the floor? A heavy box? A basket of laundry? Bags of groceries? A small child? This is a deadlift. Just like the movement above, this requires tightening the core muscles, including the lats, as you prepare to lift.
How about when you open a heavy door? This is similar to a dumbbell row. One arm extends, core muscles brace, and you pull toward your body. All of these movements are what I call functional movements and the exercises help you with those movements.
The second important function is to transfer force from the lower body to the upper body and vice versa. If you are an athlete (baseball player, football player, lacrosse player, golfer, etc…), having a strong core will help you to transfer power from your legs to your upper body.
Think of a quarterback throwing a football. He wants to “step” into the throw (like a baseball pitcher). The power from his legs gets transferred through his core to his upper body. Think of a baseball hitter batting or a lacrosse player shooting or a golfer hitting a shot. They start from the legs, rotate through their core muscles and into the upper bo
dy. It’s very important for athletes to have strong core muscles.
Another important function for the core is balance. The core helps you maintain your balance by helping to control your upper body as your lower body moves. One contributing factor to older adults having balance issues is a loss of core strength.
The bottom line is the core muscles are uniquely important for all of us. Whether you are a star athlete, a grandparent, or someone just trying to maintain good health, you need to be sure to keep your core in good shape so that your body can function at its best!
Click on the subscribe in header for updates on new blog posts!
Comments