The Importance of Working Your Core Muscles
When we see a short stooped figure walking with short shuffling steps from a
distance, most of the time we will assume that the person in question is of
advanced age. We normally associate the hunched form with old age, but why does
this happen and what can we do to help prevent it.
The reasons why stem mainly from our more modern sedentary lifestyle. The
majority of us spend out lives hunched over at the computer or desk or workbench
doing the same repetitive motions over and over again. Our muscles atrophy and
shorten, and much like a rubber band our bodies begin to have that hunched form.
For many of us it is relatively easy to fix this problem before it ever begins.
Exercise and stretching helps keep our muscles limber and strong, allowing our
bodies to retain that lean healthy look even as we age. If we look at the bodies
muscular system as a whole there is one group of muscles that form the base for
all other muscles; our core muscles.
So just what are our core muscles?
Core muscles are that group of muscles that make up our mid-section. They
include the abdominals, obliques, lower back and glutes. These muscles are
responsible for stabilizing everything we do and for our posture. By keeping our
core strong the rest of our bodily systems can function at a much greater
efficiency.
The main responsibility of the core muscle system is to provide enough power and
stabilization for the body to allow it to cope with the many dynamic challenges
it has to deal with throughout our life. Many health and fitness experts have
found that a strong core helps lessen the chance of injury to other muscles in
the body and can help alleviate many health issues related to bad posture. The
stronger the core the more stable the upper and lower torso and therefore the
stronger the entire body.
The importance of having strong core muscles cannot be overstated. Here is a
brief list of the many benefits of having a strong core.
1. Improves posture and helps eliminate lower back pain.
2. Good muscle tone helps prevent injuries not only to the back but also the
rest of the body.
3. Improvement in physical performance.
4. Prevents muscle soreness and stiffness.
5. Keeps muscles toned and supple.
As we can see having a strong core can help us in many ways and as we age
maintaining a strong core will help prevent many of the aches and pains
associated with growing old.
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