The Core is More Than Just Your Abs

There are several misconceptions when it comes to talking about our core. One of the most common involves the idea, "If I do enough abdominal exercises the fat will melt off of my tummy." This is not the case however. Body fat is lost on a total body level as the result of the body burning energy. You cannot target a certain "zone" of your body and expect the fat to be burned off like a concentrated flame on a stick of butter. Fat is a form of energy the body uses primarily when aerobic exercise if performed. When fat is used as energy it is burned off the body and reveals the muscles underneath more prominently than if excess fat were present. Although excess fat may still be present in your current situation don't be discouraged. Core strength can and should still be developed even if there excess fat.

Another misconception is that the "core" is consisted of the oblique and abdominal muscles alone. The core is consisted of the muscles that stabilize the pelvis spine and shoulders. In order for a strong core to be built these many dozens of muscles must work together and be strengthened without neglect. Some that may be neglected are the hip flexors located on the above the quads. These muscles help move the leg forward in walking and they are very important in athletes who sprint because the faster these muscles move the leg, the faster you will go.

The abs and lower back muscles work together to perform various twisting motions and stabilization of the torso. There are a lot of abdominal exercises out there that concentrate on symmetrical movement (like crunches) while performing the exercises, but if you think about daily activities there are hardly any that are done that way. Most are done asymmetrically or off balance. Twisting or rotating exercises should be done to improve low back function and reduce the risk of acute injury. Strength of the core as a whole is essential for low back injury prevention and for many of the situations we're placed in daily.

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