Rethinking Core
Part 1 of a 4 Part Series

by Zac Zimmerman

When you hear the word “Core” what does this make you think of? Endless crunches on a big bouncy ball? A class at your local gym or Y? What is your “core” exactly?

Is it your abs? Or possibly your hips? When we speak of core, we mean all of the various muscles and structures that exist from your chest down to your knees and all the way around your body. Your “core” plays a very important role in many things and particularly to support and provide the capability of moving in the many ways that we move on a daily basis. It can generate a lot of force when you need to move an object and it can stabilize you for hours on end when you need to sit or stand perfectly still.

Some common injuries to the area can include muscle pulls and strains, nerve root compression injuries, and joint overuse. Most of these occur in your lower back (lumbar spine) causing back pain. There are certainly uncontrollable factors that contribute to back pain, however, there are plenty that are under your control. The primary one being a lack of proper exercise.

The muscles of your “core” keep your vertebra in line and support the movements that you make throughout the day. If you properly condition these muscles, you can very often significantly reduce if not eliminate lower back pain. The #1 cause of low back pain is tight and weak musculature in your “core.” Thus, with the proper program, you can reverse this effect! Most people with lower back pain feel that exercise will hurt the back more, but with the correct limitations this is not true.

It is true that people often exercise improperly for “core” development, however, it is easy to correct this.

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