Why You Should Never Ignore the Core
By Genevieve Cunningham
When you picture a fit person in your head, what do you see? Though the image can definitely differ from person to person, one thing is likely similar among all images. When you picture a fit body, you picture awesome abs. A big gut or nice sized muffin top simply aren’t the image of health and fitness. Besides gaining the picture perfect look, however, there are some other great reasons to work the core. Take a look at these great reasons why you should never ignore the core in your workouts.
It Supports the Back
The core is in the exact opposite location of the lower back. As you may already know, the lower back is an area that becomes sore or painful for a lot of people. By keeping the core tight and strong, you may be able to help eliminate some of this pain and provide more support to the area. When the core is weak, the lower back has to take on the extra work, which is why you may feel strained or overworked. With strong back muscles and an equally strong core, the work is distributed evenly, and both can stay in a healthier state.
It Provides Basic Support and Strength
We use our cores for pretty much everything. When we bend, pick something up, stand still, or exercise, we use our core. It supports literally every function in the body. Since it resides right in the middle, we can’t perform any function without asking our core for support. Because of the many demands that we place on this section of our bodies, it is crucial that we keep it strong and able to meet the many demands. If you feel weak in the body in any way, strengthen the core and you may notice a marked improvement.
It Holds You Up
The weaker your core, the harder it is to stay upright. The simple act of holding our bodies upright requires the core to be engaged. If you can keep the area strong, you can hold yourself more upright with less effort. When you have better posture, it promotes a healthier spine, a thinner physique, and even better self-esteem. This also serves to keep your stomach flatter and your body image better in your own eyes.
Your core is about way more than just looking good in a picture. It provides support for your body and strength to your general well-being. If you want to stay healthy and strong far into the future, pay attention to the core and give it the challenge and support that it needs to do its job well.
To learn more about your health and wellness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Centennial, Colo.