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A Strong Core Helps Prevent Injury

Emergency rooms treat more people during the summer’s active months. Strengthening your core muscles can help reduce your risk of injury as you enjoy warm weather plans.

Fitness is the foundation of good health and injury prevention, and strong core muscles are the foundation of a fit, healthy body. Our core muscles enable us to stand upright, shift our body weight, and move in any direction. Many people think of a six-pack or flat stomach as proof of strong core muscles, but the abdominals are only a small part of the system of muscles that make up the core. We explain the muscles that make up your core, and why a weak core makes us more susceptible to injury.

Our core muscles are made up of a number of muscle groups: the abdominal, pelvic, lower back, and hip muscles. These muscle groups are divided into two types: stabilization muscles that help us maintain good posture and support our body, and mobilization muscles that function to move our body.

Weak core muscles contribute to poor posture, lower back pain, and injuries. Our core strength can be evaluated through two aspects of our posture, static and dynamic. We observe static posture when we stand, sit, or balance on one leg. Dynamic posture functions to maintain a strong posture as we move through activities like squatting, stepping, and lunging.

To build a strong core, we need more than flat abdominals. Comprehensive core exercises work the core muscle systems from our hips to our shoulders. A core exercise is any exercise that involves the coordinated use of these muscles. Some examples of core exercises include:

Exercising your core will help to strengthen the abdominal and back muscles you need to do everyday tasks. A strong core can also prevent injury as you go about the active life you love.

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