A Strong Core: What You Need to Know & How to Get One!


Posted by Dr. Scott Wilson | 02-May-2014

By now, you’ve probably heard that having a “strong core” is important, but if you’re like most people, you may not know exactly what that means, why it’s important or what to do about it. Here’s a quick overview.
 
FINDING YOUR CORE:
Essentially, your “core” is located in the middle section of your body. While most people think of it as just the abdominal muscles, it actually includes your diaphragm (lower chest), abdomen (belly), mid-lower back, obliques (sides) and lower pelvic muscles. All in all over 25 different muscles make up your core.
 
WHY YOUR CORE MATTERS:
Your core is where your body’s strength and stability comes from. It is part of a “kinetic chain” that allows the various parts of your body to function correctly and is critical, not just for optimal athletic performance, but also for performing any number of daily activities (e.g., sitting, walking, running, reaching, bending, climbing stairs, etc…). As our bodies age, it becomes increasingly important for avoiding injuries and for maintaining an active life.
 
ENHANCING YOUR CORE:
When it comes to enhancing your core, it’s important to focus on both muscle strength and muscle endurance. For strengthening, you’ll want to do exercises with greater resistance but fewer repetitions and for endurance you’ll do the opposite – lesser resistance but more repetitions. Here’s a video from Dr. Jason Lemieux of Physiomed Oakville that demonstrates some key exercises for improving your core:
 

 
 
If you’re committed to improving your core strength (and why wouldn’t you be?), it’s important to keep the following in mind:
 

  • Easy does it, three times a week is a good start
  • Always be mindful of the alignment of your spine
  • Use exercises that also strengthen the surrounding muscles
  •  
    Need help, don’t hesitate to give us a call. Remember, at Physiomed, Healthier Starts Here!


Dr. Scott Wilson

Dr. Scott Wilson is the Founder & Chairman of Physiomed; one of Canada’s largest franchised networks of inter-disciplinary healthcare clinics. A graduate of Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College, Dr. Wilson founded Physiomed in 1994 and has since grown Physiomed to over 30 clinics in Southern Ontario and British Columbia. With hundreds of practitioners from over a dozen disciplines, Dr. Wilson and Physiomed have helped over 100,000 Canadians with physiotherapy, chiropractic, massage therapy, orthotic therapy, compression therapy and clinical conditioning as part of a program of rehabilitation and health optimization. In addition to helping patients improve their physical and mental well-being, Dr. Wilson has also mentored hundreds of practitioners to provide better care while enjoying more fulfilling careers. He is also a keynote speaker on many health related topics including how physiotherapy, chiropractic and health & wellness treatment can help with stress, weight loss, and unlocking the true potential within to achieve lasting physical well-being.

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