"Core Strength"

GreenHorn

Started doing squats in the gym recently and was told it's very good for "core strength". I've also saw this phrase used here a few times.... Could somebody please explain exactly what is meant by it? How important is it and what are other ways to build it up - how necessary is it to build it up?

Thanks...

BossArky

Core strength is the balanced development of the muscles that stabilse and move the trunk of the body, including the abdominals and muscles of the back. The goal is to develop the deep internal muscles of the trunk so that all the muscles are moving and strengthed in the most efficient manner to each other. This goes beyond the surface muscles and makes us utilise our deep internal muscles to maintain stability in motion.

Squatting is a compound lift - great for using combinations of muscles together such as lower back, legs, abs. Start off low until you are comfy, then work up the weights.

GreenHorn

Great - thanks Man

OFDM

BossArky wrote:

deep internal muscles

Elaborate please, what are these mysterious "deep internal muscles"...?

BossArky

Sit up straight in a relaxed manner on a medicine ball. Get someone to rock the ball backwards and forwards. You'll flop around on top.

Repeat the above, however this time contract your inner muscles as if you are trying to stop peeing. The ball will stay steady(er). This is an example of some of these mysterious deep internal muscles.

People don't normally show off their sphincter muscles or flex them in the mirror. This doesn't mean they don't exist and play an important role - as with the rest of the internal muscles.

Rogueish

What BossArky said.

Plus and the 'mysterious' deep internal muscles are called:
- the Pelvic Floor Muscles (they stabilise the pelvis and control and stabilise the trunk so that the legs can generate power from the trunk)

- the Transversus Abdominius (wraps around the abdomen like a belt, stabilising increasing the intra-abdominal pressure to stabilise the lower back during activity)

- the Multifidi (small muscles that extend from vertebrae to vertebrae and are responsible for the individual bending and straightening of the spine so that each level does it's own share of the work rather than letting individual levels doing become hypermobile or hypomobile)

hunnymonster

if noone else is going to post it......

g'em

hunnymonster wrote:

if noone else is going to post it......

bwahahahaaaaaa!!! classic

Rogueish

Thats one for my pilates classes!

BossArky

hunnymonster wrote:

if noone else is going to post it......

classic!