Core Exercises Are Good For You
You know core exercises are good for you — but do you include core exercises in your fitness routine? Here’s why you should.
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Core exercises are an important part of a well-rounded fitness program. Aside from occasional situps and pushups, however, core exercises are often neglected. Still, it pays to get your core muscles — the muscles around your trunk and pelvis — in better shape. Read on to find out why.
Core exercises train the muscles in your pelvis, lower back, hips and abdomen to work in harmony. This leads to better balance and stability, whether on the playing field or in daily activities. In fact, most sports and other physical activities depend on stable core muscles.
Any exercise that involves the use of your abdominal and back muscles in coordinated fashion counts as a core exercise.
For example, using free weights in a manner that involves maintaining a stable trunk can train and strengthen several of your muscles, including your core muscles.
You may also try several specific core exercises to stabilize and strengthen your core.
Planks Core Exercises
Some examples of core exercises include planks, situps and fitness ball exercises.
Bridge Core Exercises
The bridge exercise is another example of a classic core exercise. Lie on your back with your knees bent. Keep your back in a neutral position, not arched and not pressed into the floor. Avoid tilting your hips. Tighten your abdominal muscles. Raise your hips off the floor until your hips are aligned with your knees and shoulders. Hold the position for as long as you can without breaking your form.
Benefits of Core Exercises
Strong core muscles make it easier to do many activities, such as swing a golf club, get a glass from the top shelf and bend down to tie your shoes. Strong core muscles are also important for athletes, such as runners, as weak core muscles can lead to more fatigue, less endurance and injuries.
Weak core muscles can also leave you susceptible to poor posture, lower back pain and muscle injuries. Strengthening core muscles may also help improve back pain.
Want more-defined abdominal muscles? Core exercises are important. Although it takes aerobic activity to burn abdominal fat, core exercises can strengthen and tone the underlying muscles.
Aerobic exercise and muscular fitness are the primary elements of most fitness programs. But to have a well-rounded fitness program, consider including core exercises in the mix as well.
Whether you’re a novice taking the first steps toward fitness or a committed fitness fanatic hoping to optimize your results, a well-rounded fitness program is the best way to reach your fitness goals.
Article Sources
BodyMind Essentials uses only trusted sources, including peer-reviewed medical journals, government organizations and academic institutions to support the facts within our articles.
Chang WD, et al. Core strength training for patients with chronic low back pain. Journal of Physical Therapy Science. 2015;27:619.
Rivera CE. Core and lumbopelvic stabilization in runners. Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Clinics of North America. 2016;27:319.
Martuscello JM, et al. Systematic review of core muscle activity during physical fitness exercises. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research. 2013;27:1684.
Haff GG, et al. Exercise technique for alternative modes and nontraditional implement training. In: Essentials of Strength Training. 4th ed. Champaign, Ill.: Human Kinetics; 2016.
Mayo Clinic
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Last Updated on February 19, 2021 by Heather Scott