The buzz word that has worked it’s way from the
medical community to the public iscore training.
Most health, fitness, rehabilitation and sports
professionals advise people to do some type of core
training in order to recover from an injury, for overall
health and for sports performance. Even though
core training is important there are 5 myths about core Training.
Myth #1 – Core Training is Rectus Abdominus Training
The Core Is More Than Just Your 6-Pack.
The core is made up of two layers, the deep
and superficial layers. The deep layer
muscles are attached to the spine and pelvis.
They help provide support to the spine and
pelvis when they are active and contracting.
The superficial layer are the muscles that we
can see and feel that wrap around the lower
back. Core training focus on the deep and
superficial layers. Crunches or 6-packing
training only focus on one of the superficial
muscles and ignores the deep muscle layer
and all the other superficial muscles. You
need to work the deep and superficial layer
muscles in order to get a true core workout
and no one exercise targets all these
muscles.
Myth #2 – Quantity Beats Quality
Many people will say they perform 1000
crunches a day in order to work on their
core. It’s more important to perform15
repetitions that focus on perfect technique
and target the right muscle compared to
using cheating muscle to get the number
you are looking for. Remember, quality
over quantity. If you want to get the results
of a strong core, focus on quality. If you
want to impress your friends, focus on
quantity.
Myth #3 : – Doing Core Exercises Reduces Fat Over Your Abs
Between your skin and your abdominals there is
adipose tissue. These are cells that store fat so
your body has storage of energy in a time of
starvation. Very much like a camel that has the
two humps on their back where they store water
for when there isn’t any water available. If you
strengthen your abs, you will make the
abdominals bigger but you will still have fat tissue
in the way. If you want to flatten your stomach a
well designed exercise program and nutritional
program will get you there faster than doing core
exercises.
Myth #4 – A Strong Core Will Eliminate Back Pain
A strong core is important for a pain-
free back, but it is not the only thing that is
needed. The core stabilizers need the
endurance and proper firing. The core
muscles need to have the endurance to
contract at a low force level for a long
time. The core muscles need to
activate prior to any arm and leg
movement in order to stabilize the
lumbo-pelvic-hip complex and
efficiently transmit force from the upper
and lower body and vice versa. A
strong core is only one part of a pain-
free back. You need good posture,
efficient movement, good
cardiovascular fitness and flexibility to
have a pain-free back.
Myth #5 – Core Stability has not changed Since 1996
Core stability has evolved as fast
as computers have since 1996. At the
start, the concept of core stability was
applied to all. As clinical experience
and research developed with time so
has the application of core stability
based on the client, and client’s goals.
As it has been difficult to keep
up with all of the changes in
computers, it has been difficult for
many professions that provide
guidance on exercise, to keep abreast with
the latest in core stability. It is best to find
someone that has a strong interest in
your situation and can help you reach
you goal. For example, you would
never go to the orthotics guy if you
need your knee replaced.
Conclusion
Now that you know the 5 myths of core stability, you are
better informed on getting the result you are looking for.
Remember, training the 6-pack only works
one of the muscles of the core, doing 15 perfect core
exercises is better than 1000 core exercises, along with
exercise and nutritional program will get you
your flat stomach, core stability is one piece of the
puzzle for a pain-free back
and core stability has come a long ways since 1996, and
what is appropriate for one client is not for another.
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