Core Stability - Course and Exercises

‘Core Stability’ is a term originally coined in the late 1980s by researchers that has in recent years has been hijacked by the fitness industry and as such ‘core stability’ training has become confused with simple abdominal strengthening.

So what actually is ‘core stability’? Muscles in the body can be broadly categorised in terms of their role as stabilisers, i.e. muscles which support and stabilise the body, and mobilisers, i.e. those that move the body. This distinction is not black or white; many muscles are involved in both these roles.

The ‘core’ muscles are those involved in stabilising the body, in particular the spine, pelvis, and shoulder blade regions. They hold our body together so as to provide a solid foundation for the bigger muscles (mobiliser) muscles to move the extremities, the result being more efficient movement, less stress to tissues within the body, and as an added bonus improved performance.

‘Core stability’ training involves doing exercises designed to improve the function of these ‘core’ stabilising muscles, which include the abdominal, back, and gluteal (buttock) muscle groups. For ‘core’ stability programs to be effective they must not only target all of these muscle groups, but dependant on the person’s particular problem must prioritize exercises for some of those muscle groups over others. For example, if a patient with a knee problem presented with abnormal pelvis mechanics then training might prioritize exercises for the gluteal and abdominal muscles.

‘Core stability’ isn’t just about strength. Some of the ‘core’ muscles contract continuously in the background with very low force, and as such training for those particular muscles focuses on improving ‘brain to muscle’ control. Think about it, if a muscle is strong but doesn’t switch on when it is supposed to, then its strength is somewhat redundant. ‘Core’ muscle activation and endurance are more important than ‘core’ strength.

There is a wealth of evidence now supporting the use of core stability exercises in treating various problems, especially relating to low back pain. Research has demonstrated the effectiveness of ‘core’ stability exercises in both recovering from LBP, and in preventing the recurrence of LBP.

In addition to core stability, we also offer a variety of other physiotherapy courses including ergonomics, corrigo, posture correction, acupuncture and more. Call us today to take an appointment.