Core Training Mistakes That Are Easy to Make
By Sara Butler
The chiropractors at The Joint can tell you that exercise is an essential component of spinal health -- especially exercises that target your core muscles. Armed with this knowledge, perhaps you’ve added crunches or planks to your workout regimen, but are you treating your core right? Here are some of the most common core training mistakes you should avoid to help you get the most out of your workouts.
Mistake No. 1: Too Much Bending
If you do exercises such as crunches, you’re simply doing too much bending. When the core experiences too much flexion, it doesn’t help it build muscle or strength. In fact, you may be making your posture worse and your midsection unstable.
Instead of exercises that involve a lot of bending, try planks, jackknifes, or rollouts. Ask your chiropractor for some tips about exercises that help to strengthen your core or work with a personal trainer at the gym to ensure you’re doing it right.
Mistake No. 2: Too Much Twisting
Just as with flexing and bending, twisting is a movement that doesn’t help to build strength in your core. Plus, twisting is not a great movement for your spine and may result in injury. Resist the urge of twisting exercise and instead go for movements that help to brace your core and keep your posture neutral.
Mistake No. 3: Bad Positioning
One of the keys to successful core exercises is correct posture and positioning. This helps you to target the right muscles instead of relying on the wrong ones that can result in a muscle imbalance. It’s important to learn and use the correct technique when performing core exercises.
Mistake No. 4: Poor Breathing Techniques
The way you breathe is an important aspect of core exercise. It’s important to learn to control your breath while you exercise with controlled inhales and exhales. Make sure to engage your diaphragm, not simply your chest and shoulders when breathing.
Mistake No. 5: A Poor Diet
All the exercise in the world can’t make up for poor diet choices. It doesn’t matter how strong you make your core if you’re not working to maintain a healthy weight through your diet. Make sure you focus on foods that are a great source of lean protein, complex carbohydrates, fruits, and vegetables -- and don’t neglect the whole grains, either!
Exercise is great for you, but it pays to make sure you're doing it right.
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Jacksonville, Fla.