Why Core Training Workouts Need More Than Ab Exercises

In recent years core training workouts and abdominal training have become synonymous but core conditioning programs need more than just abdominal exercises.

The “core” is the body’s center of gravity and origin of movement and actually consists of many different muscles that stabilize the trunk and hips, allowing efficient movement of the upper and lower extremeties.

Core training programs that fail to address these muscles and focus primarily on abdominal exercises will get limited results at best. Core training exercises need to address the muscles of the trunk and hips to be effective.

Proper core workout training targeted on these muscles help:

• develop better movement coordination and control
• improve balance
• proper load transfer between the upper and lower body
• stabilize the spine and pelvis
• improve joint stability

A strong core is needed to protect the back and hips and other joints of the body during weight bearing activities and to effectively dissipate ground reaction forces.

Core training workouts can help reduce shoulder, back, hip and knee pain and improve athletic performance.

And, core training exercises can be performed using a variety of training tools such as: medicine balls, stability balls, dumbbells, kettlebells, resistance bands and your own body weight.

Movements like the plank, bridge, trunk rotations, squats and multi-directional lunges are very effective core fitness training exercises.

Developing optimum core strength and stability requires core training workouts focus on more than just ab exercises. There are many different exercises to develop core strength and stability.

A qualified trainer or a properly designed core stabilization training program can you help determine which core fitness exercises work best for you.

photo credit: hectorir