by Nick Carlson
Why is Core Activation Important?
Whether you’re an athlete or not, core activation is essential for optimizing your biomechanics and preventing future injuries. Your core muscles encompass and affect several regions in the body, extending from as high as your shoulders to further down by the glutes, and beyond. Not only can proper core stimulation affect your performance and prevent injuries, but it is also monumental in maintaining proper stabilization, force distribution, integration and perturbation phases of everyday functional tasks you make take part in.
Weak core muscles can also contribute to sciatic nerve problems, causing back pain that radiates down one or both legs. This can be extremely debilitating for people as they try to participate in activities that now come with sharp and shooting pain. However, proper core stabilization and lumbopelvic exercises can play an essential role in the rehab process.
Primary Functions of the Core
The core primarily serves four functions that are crucial for utilizing proper posture and avoiding any potential injuries. Firstly, the core prepares for movement, enabling the body to anticipate for future dynamic actions. Secondly, it stabilizes the spine, supplying a great foundation for force transmission. Next, the core is responsible for prepping other muscles and joints for weight bearing activities, ensuring sufficient support with load bearing activities. Lastly, the core acts as a communicant between the upper and lower extremities, ensuring for proper movement during activities, such as walking, running and throwing.
How is Core Strength Evaluated?
When evaluating the core, objective measurements such as strength and range of motion of the lumbar spine, thoracic spine, and hips are fundamental. Functional assessment should also be obtained to measure proper core activation including the sit to stand activity, and single leg squats, step ups and bridges. Trunk endurance also plays a huge role in how strong and stable the core muscles are and should be tracked meticulously when evaluating the strength of your core. In conclusion, core training is essential to improve your function and prevent any future injuries. When you are constructing your workout regiment, be sure to include some form of core activation in your routine, such as curl ups, dead bug exercises, planks, or Russian twists.
Strengthen Your Core With Capital Area Physical Therapy
Core strength is essential for preventing injury and performing every day tasks and functions. If you would like help strengthening your core, Capital Area Physcial Therapy can help. We conduct a thorough assessment of your core strength, teach you proper core activation techniques, and provide you with customized core activation exercises. Call (518) 289-5242 to make an appointment with our physical therapists in Malta, Queensbury, Saratoga Springs and Delmar.
References
Lupowitz LG. Comprehensive Approach to Core Training in Sports Physical Therapy: Optimizing Performance and Minimizing Injuries. Int J Sports Phys Ther. 2023;18(4):800-806. Published 2023 Aug 2. doi:10.26603/001c.84525
