What's In Your Core?

When people think of strengthening their core the muscle that comes to mind is the abdominals. I agree that it is important to strengthen your abdominal muscles but it is also important to strengthen the surrounding muscles. These muscles include your back muscles, abdominal muscles, and obliques (muscles on side of abdomen).

People who have a weaker core tend to be overweight, hunched over, and complain of chronic low back pain. The best way to correct this problem is by performing core stabilization exercises on a regular basis.

The one I performed last night takes 5 minutes and is very simple. For the next 5 weeks we will be discussing not only the importance of core strength but we will be focusing on different exercises you can do at home to improve your core strengh.

5 Minue Plank

1) Get 5 minute song ready to play.

2) Get into the plank position.

3) Count to 5 out loud.

4) Place right arm only on floor and turn to left while maintaining core strength.

5) Count to 5 out loud.

6) Get back into plank position.

7) Count to 5 out loud.

8) Place left arm only on floor and turn to right while maintaining core strength.

9) Count to 5 out loud.

10) Repeat Steps 2-10.

If you cannot make it the whole song then do it until you can no longer bear the pain. Once you hit 5 minutes then put in a 5:30 song. This workout should be an easy beginner workout for you to begin developing your core strength.

At Cohen Family Wellness, we will be working with each patient on different core stabilization exercises. These will be performed in our multi-functional facility within our office. STAY TUNED!!!