CORE STABILIZATION

We teach our patients special exercises designed just for them to help strengthen and correct their own unique problem. These exercises can be performed in the comfort of your own home and can improve the effectiveness of your spinal correction by as much as 30-40%.

Think of the spine as a stack of separate bones with fluid-filled discs between the bones as a cushion. That doesn’t sound very stable, does it? It’s a good thing that layers of soft tissue such as cartilage and ligaments connect to the spine to make it more stable.

Your spine is also stabilized by a group of muscles attached to the spine at critical areas. If these muscles are strong and working properly, your body will have a solid base for movement and will be able to absorb the impact and vibrations created by moving around on a solid surface, like the ground we all walk on.


INNER CORE MUSCLES

The main muscles involved in core stabilization are not always obvious because they are buried beneath others muscles. Your transverse abdominus, for example, is hidden underneath your rectus abdominus (or “six-pack”) and encases the area beneath your belly button. The multifidus muscle lies along your spine and connects the vertebrae (bones) together. The pelvic floor muscles also aid in stabilizing your spine but are usually only noticed when contracted to prevent urination.


OUTER CORE MUSCLES

Other muscles that are closer to the surface, and somewhat more noticeable, also help with core stabilization. The muscles in your back and buttocks, around your pelvis and hips, and your sides are all “outer-core” muscles that assist stabilization and help your body move.

Outer core muscles: latissimus dorsi, gluteus maximus, oblique abdominals, & hip abductors.


Why is Core Stabilization Important?

Core stabilization muscles work together to keep your trunk stable while your limbs are active. Strong core muscles hold your body upright, improve your balance and enable you to put more effort into arm and leg movements. If the core muscles are weak, your body doesn’t work as effectively, and other muscles have to pick up the slack.

This can result in injuries such as a twisted knee, a pulled shoulder or the common “bad back”. A WEAK CORE CAN MAKE YOU OLD BEFORE YOUR TIME.

With core stabilization, you may be old in years, but you won’t walk old. If you’re young or active in sports, core stabilization will help your body movement and improve your performance. For exercise at any level, core stabilization is essential for injury prevention and maximum fitness results.