Our core is comprised of a group of muscles that are essential for our body to function well in relation to mobility and balance. These muscles anchor many of our muscles and assist others with their functions. For this reason alone, it is important to build and strengthen the muscles of the core. In this article, we will discuss the benefits of strong core muscles.
The Importance of Core Strength
What are core muscles? Our core muscles are those in the pelvis, abdomen, lower back and trunk which allow us to bend, walk, reach up, turn to the side, and perform other activities. The stronger these muscles are, the more they support the rest of our muscles and prevent strain and injury.
A good, strong core helps us maintain an upright posture, prevents slouching, and reduces pressure on the lower back. A strong core helps alleviate pressure on the pelvis when sitting, which is one of the causes of chronic back pain. One of the other benefits of strong core muscles is being able to perform better in sports. Sports that require coordination and balance such as soccer, tennis, running, gymnastics, and so forth benefit from a strong core.
Your core also helps prevent injuries to the spine, joints, and pelvis and supports surrounding muscles. Even if you are not a sports person, day to day activities around the home such as bending, climbing a ladder and even gardening will result in less straining of muscles if your core is healthy and strong.
A strong core can even help you lose weight, as you end up with more lean muscle which burns calories faster. Your core protects your bones as well by improving supporting muscle and reducing strain directly on the bones. A strong, healthy core can reduce stress and injury to a number of areas in your body which can also promote a healthier life overall and even increase your lifespan. Belly fat is linked to a number of illnesses. Improving your core should also cut down on some of your belly fat, reducing risks of diabetes, heart disease, and related problems.
How Can You Train Your Core?
There are a number of training regimens that can be used to improve your core. These include basic exercises you can do at your desk, low-level floor exercises, use of weights, and full body toning. While it would be great to have that six-pack look, that is not always the goal. Keeping your body healthy, strong, and being able to reduce injury while improving your balance is a great goal to aim for.
Your own body can also be an effective tool when training your core by using your body weight to improve strength. It is also important to eat healthy to support your body in strengthening your core muscles and keeping your bones healthy as well.
Conclusion
The benefits of strong core muscles are many and long-lasting. For this reason, everybody should aim for a healthy and strong core. A fitness program like FITin56 can help develop and strengthen your core muscles. In any case, you should start slow and work at it gradually, trying various exercises including weights and floor exercises. If you follow these guidelines, you should start seeing an improvement in your overall posture and movement in no time at all.