Blog

Core it up!

28 April 2016
Screen Shot 2016 04 28 at 10.22.07 AM

We’ve said it before, and we will continue to say; your core muscles are SOO important when it comes to your posture, exercises and stability. Also very important, core strength can make you look super sexy and confident!

Let us boost our core strength by putting it at the forefront of our minds.

Well firstly, the core is the centre of you (think apple core) it is what holds up your upper body. Without it, you may load up unnecessary pressure on your spine and surrounding muscles. In your lower back (lumbar spine), there are 5 vertebrae that allow you to bend forward, backwards, side to side and twist.

Now the muscles in this area keep you upright, you need to keep them strong to avoid injuries, particularly in the lower back! The core is not a single muscle, it is a combination of muscles. A weak core or not activating your core can affect your posture, as it can make you hunch over, which can even affect your breathing.

There are a series of exercises you can do to strengthen the core but FIRST, we need to learn how to activate it.

LETS ACTIVATE

Draw your belly button to your spine, not by sucking your breath in but by using the muscles (please continue to breathe). Pilate’s instructors ask you to do this all the time!

PEEEEE! Yes, that’s right, pretend you are trying to stop yourself from peeing, squishing your muscles switches on your pelvic floor and your core muscles.

Doing both of these, should not hurt and should not stop your breathing.

Now that you’ve learnt the technique, lets activate! Try this technique prior to lifting anything, while you’re sitting in the car, or while taking your selfie ..brace that core!

Once you know how to activate your core, now you can strengthen it. This is where the pilates, yoga and all that twisting and crunching come into play.

Training your body to activate the core and strengthen it is particularly important for anyone suffering lower back pain (I’m sure we all know a few people), studies have shown that in every case of lower back pain, the deep core stability that your muscles provide stops working. Not good, not good at all.

We need our core to help us stand tall and confident, look good and feel great! As we know the bad posture ruins more than just your pictures..

If I haven’t convinced you yet, here are some more reasons to start activating your core TODAY:

  • Prevent injuries – link to study here
  • Protect our spine, organs and nervous system , because let’s face it, they’re important..
  • Help our painssss. Lower back pain? Work on your core, studies as to why here
  • Confidence—our posture can be upright and strong, making us increase our belief in our own minds and look so much better in pictures(and day to day).
  • Activating your core requires you to stand or sit up straight, making the tummy area more flattering, and ensure you are confident in your own skin.
  • You can be stronger in exercise, activating your core muscles and stabilizing the area gives your body strength to centre from, making you able to lift easier, jump higher, and run faster.

There can be a missing link to core stability, and that is alignment and movement of the pelvis.

This is where it is best to see your health professional first (chiropractor, exercise movement, physiotherapist or osteopath). A study done on core activation showed that after an adjustment of the pelvis, there can be a 40% increase in core muscle function, allowing you to strengthen this muscle group more efficiently.

Want to learn more about the link between alignment and movement of the pelvis and how this can effect core stability make an appointment to see Dr Diana Pakzamir on Tuesday and Friday at Melbourne Wellness. Book now 98940014!