Your core is about much more than looks. You wouldn't think so based on the flood of magazines and articles coming at us on "loose the stubborn belly flab", "bikini-ready abs", and "How to get six-pack abs in 15 min a day". While there is no doubt having a flat midsection would be nice, core strength is actually the key to injury prevention and a strong back.
Core strength helps you in significant ways, every day, and in nearly every movement your body makes. It’s at the critical component of how you reach, stretch, lift, and bend. Without adequate core strength, you may be putting your body at risk for pain and chronic problems.
Also, your “core” isn’t just your abs. Although most people think about the "6-pack" as their core, your core also includes your pelvis, lower back, and even glutes play a role in core strength and stability.
Building appropriate strength throughout your core creates a significant impact on your health :
Injury prevention: When you can move efficiently, it doesn’t cause one part of your body or certain muscles to do all the work. Your back, shoulders, and knees aren’t being strained just because your core lacks stability and strength.
Stronger back: .Low back pain is the leading cause of disability worldwide. Along with headaches, back pain is the most common reason people miss work. Back pain has a cascading effect as the pain lowers your energy levels, disrupts sleep, and even increases the prevalence of anxiety, and depression. When you strengthen your core you lower your risk of chronic back pain and these cascade of symptoms.
Better balance: As we age, we stop practicing our ability to balance, we stop hopping on one foot and playing games that challenge our balance. Along with many other factors that affect balance, including eye and inner ear issues, medication side effects, joint health, our balance decreases. When balance is decreased, it can cause fall risk and other serious problems. But training the core can help to address these challenges and keep you on track as you age.
One of the best ways to increase core strength is through Pilates and our CORE program, which focuses on core stabilization and control in order to prevent injury and optimize function.
We offer several options and packages for both Pilates and our CORE program. Contact the clinic today for all the details.
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