Core Strength Training

Core Strength Training
Core strength training has become a hot topic in the
fitness industry recently, and superficial fitness buffs
merely assume that it basically means intensive abdominal
exercises. However, it isn't just about your abs at all,
because other muscles make up your core as well. Aside from
your surface and deeper abdominals, these include the
muscles on your trunk and torso, namely the cervical or
upper region of the spine, the thoracic or middle region of
the spine, and lower back, or the lumbar region.

Looking at the location of these muscles, you can tell that
core strength training then is to support the spine,
shoulders and pelvis by strengthening the surrounding
muscles, and to fortify the strength of your mid-section,
so that it may lend power to the rest of your body. Without
any strength in these muscles, you probably wouldn't be
able to stand on your two feet. Strengthening the muscles
of the pelvis will bring power to your legs. Strengthening
the shoulder frame will give power to your arms. Supporting
the spine will keep everything all under control.

Core strength also allows you control over your physical
motions and activity, gives you better balance, and keeps
you from getting injured. One such injury that core
strength training is employed for is when you have a
susceptible lower back. Lower back pain is not limited to
athletes and fitness subscribers, it is a problem among
anyone with a weak spine. Some individuals get into core
strength training because they initially sought to cure
their back pain woes.

Core training exercises are composed of exercises that work
these parts of the body. Bridges, or exercises where you
brace yourself up from the floor with your elbow and arm
facing different positions. The prone bridge develops
strength in your trunk and pelvis, the lateral bridge in
your abdomen, while the supine bridge, where you prop your
hips up diagonally to the floor, anchored by your upper
body and feet, develops the gluteal muscles. An exercise
called the Plank, or a hovering exercise, is similar to
these bridge exercises.

Pelvic thrusts are also good for the abdomen and the
muscles in the lumbar region of the torso, while Russian
Twists develop the middle and upper body. Core strength
exercises must successfully not only develop one muscle
area, but several simultaneously. Other exercises that
strengthen different groups of core muscles are squats,
lunges, push ups, lateral pull downs, back extensions, chin
ups and different crunches.

In recent years, Pilates has advanced core strength
training by introducing even more alternative exercise,
most particularly with special equipment such as medicine
balls, stability balls and products made to enhance
products, such as balance and wobble boards.

To get started on a core strength training program, you
could start with the very basics - push ups and crunches.
If you'd like to continue a do-it-yourself program, you
could also incorporate yoga into your exercise regimen, as
you learn balance and centering from yoga and keep you
focused on your core, what it is, what it needs.

If you would rather have guidance in core strength
training, find a trainer you're comfortable with and
willing to figure out an ideal core training program for
you. Now that you know what it is, it's much easier to find
what you need.

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Mary Meade is a fitness guru addict. She runs a great site
and offers good advice on strength training anatomy at
http://www.strengthtraininganatomy.net/