One aspect of fitness training that’s all too often overlooked is deep abs and core strengthening… one mistake that can have a major impact on your overall wellness and the results you’re working hard to achieve. Here are four reasons you should be paying more attention to fortifying your inner midsection from the FizzUp trainer!
Whether you’re bending over to tie your shoes, picking something up off the floor, turning around to look behind you, sitting down or just standing, your body depends on your abs and core strength in order to do these everyday actions… anything that involves bending, extending, rotating, inclining, supporting or twisting your torso.
Generally speaking, there are three layers to your core: your superficial abs, obliques and deep abs. These layers of muscles act like a natural corset. Your lower back muscles, spinal muscles, glutes, serratus anterior and many other smaller core muscles found close to your spine also make up your midsection.
Building a stable, solid and muscular upper body can help keep a magnitude of injuries at bay. But we’re not just talking about your arms and pecs! Increasing your core strength and stability by training the following muscles is key: your superficial and deep abs, glutes, lower back muscles and to a lesser extent, your hamstrings. If you take it seriously, you’ll enhance your overall physical fitness and make yourself less prone to injuries. The stronger and stabler your core is, the easier and faster it is for you to change positions without running the risk of injury and resist external force and physical stress. What’s more, you’ll strengthen back muscles that can be exhausted by bending over, twisting your upper body or long periods of sitting. So if you want a solid core, it’s time to work those abs!
Back pain is a common side effect of a weak core and abdominal wall and poor flexibility. A strong core maintains the balance between the front and back of your body. Remember, if your abs are weak, then your back muscles are often the ones that pick up the slack. But sadly, this puts them under an incredible amount of pressure that they can’t resist. This makes them hypertonic, leading to varying degrees of pain (for more info, do some research on “Janda syndromes”).
Eventually, the fact that you haven’t been working to improve your abdominal and core strength can lead to a wide array of injuries and spine problems like herniated discs! Being kind to your back by working your abs intelligently is one of the best actions you can take!
Poor posture can put a damper on even the most perfect of physiques. Aside from the aesthetic appeal, when you walk around with your shoulders rounded forward and you back hunched, you’re putting a significant amount of pressure on your back. At this point, you’re more prone to back pain and run a much higher risk of injury (besides looking like Quasimodo’s cousin).
Poor posture is often due to muscle imbalance (abs that are weaker than your lower back). This wears on your spine and even limits your breathing capacity! So from now on, if you focus on putting all the muscles to work that you engage while strengthening your core, you can correct that imbalance. Once that’s taken care of, you’ll enjoy a healthier posture and feel so much more fit and confident. Another perk of good posture is that it boosts your performance and helps you get the most out of your workout. When you put some serious effort into your core strengthening/transverse abdominis, you’ll flatten your stomach and achieve the more attractive figure you crave.
Strong core muscles make it easier for you to do a wide variety of everyday tasks and physical activities, whether you want to run, jump, throw a football, grab an object or bend over to tie your shoelaces. A solid and flexible core matters in almost any movement you make.
A solid core improves two extremely important physical abilities (balance and stability) to prevent injuries and better your movement. This is especially critical if you’re an athlete or have reached an older age when you can start to lose your balance. These abilities are key for most sports and fluid movement no matter how you move or what activity you’re doing. A stronger core will improve your performance and facilitate your movement.
Training your abs and core on a regular basis leads to more efficient movement and strength transfer when you do the everyday tasks and physical activities that highly depend on these muscles. This might sound crazy, but most of the movements you make involve your core. For instance, maintaining good posture while carrying and resisting a heavy load or combining two or more movements definitely requires a stable core!
What’s more, when you need to generate power, these muscles work as a unit. Even if you have excellent upper and lower-body strength, you’ll never be as mighty as your core strength to transfer this power. We’re talking about transferring strength throughout your entire body and this is the point to remember. Think of your abs as a link in the middle of a chain that connects your upper and lower body. The power has to pass through this part of your body, which is why it needs to be strong. Now you can see that a fortified core is so important for athletes!
Exercise such as planks, glute bridges and other abs exercises are excellent ways to start core strengthening. You can get a stronger core with workouts that include a variety of dynamic or isometric exercises, in addition to exercises you can do with or without equipment. Whether you’re new to exercise or an experienced athlete that wants maximum results, a program that specifically targets your abs and core is a crucial element in reaching your goals and achieving everyday wellness.
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