As you might probably have heard already, core stability is an important aspect in modern training and consequently insufficient stability is associated with back pain. But you are actually not quite sure what’s it all about? Let me explain it to you…

Imagine, you are wearing a corset. This is like the circular part of your core composed of the abdominals in the front and paraspinalis (e.g. multifidi) and gluteals in the back. Additionally, your diaphragm limits the core as the roof and the pelvic floor and hip girdle musculature as the bottom. Within this corset are 29 pairs of muscles that help to stabilise your spine, pelvis and kinetic chain during functional movements. During an exercise your core musculature contracts and leads to an increased intra – abdominal pressure meaning the pressure within the area your core encloses. This has been shown to impart tiffness to the spine and is therefore important for the spine stability specially during strenuous movements. Therefore, if you lift weight in your everyday life like your heavy shopping basket or your beverage crate, your core musculature optimally provides a stable back.

So far so good, but why is it important to know the components of core stability? Many training approaches neglect the importance of the diaphragm and the pelvic floor. Thus, diaphragm breathing techniques and pelvic floor activation will be an important part of your 8sense core – strengthening program later on. Train your sense, fight your pain