By Physiotherapist, Vanessa Boon
Do More With a Strong Core
Did you know that in most activities, your core muscles activate prior to movement? Also, a weak core is one of the main causes of lower back pain/injuries. Besides back issues, a weak core can play a part in other injuries. For example, most exercises work your core as a secondary muscle e.g squats, overhead press, and deadlifts. Having a weak core will affect your form and increase your risk of injury.
Think about it this way, your core is your foundation. You need a strong foundation before you build anything on top of it. The stronger your foundation, the bigger and taller the building can be.
What are some of the benefits of having a strong core?
Your back is happy!
- Most of us would have experienced lower back pain at some point in our lives. If you have not, you are part of the lucky 20% out of the entire population! Whether you have or have not experienced any form of back pain, we should all work to keep our backs as healthy and happy as possible for as long as possible.
Improvement in posture
- Good sustained posture is also beneficial for your back. It reduces the amount of unnecessary load on your spine and can potentially slow down the rate of degeneration on your spine.
Allows you to do what you want/need to!
- Think about your hobbies, the sports you enjoy playing, your workout habits, and even daily household chores – most of these activities require a certain amount of core strength or are generated from your core.
Reduces your risk of falls
- Your core is essential in balance and stability. It is one of the main muscles that help you stand on one leg without falling over. As we get older, we start to lose balance, which increases our risk of falling. By keeping your core strong, you can decrease fall risks and keep doing what you love longer!