What is your core?
Your core is the area that supports your lower spine and consists of the following muscles; Tranverse
abdominis (TVA), multifidus (MF), internal obliques, para spinal muscles and your pelvic floor. Basically all the deep
muscles of the mid-rift. the para spinal and MF muscles act directly to resist the forces acting on your lower back.
It is not just recruitment of these deep trunk muscles but how they are recruited that is important.
When you have weak core muscles your lower back can suffer and can become painful as the work your core
should be doing is done by the lower back instead. Your TVA is like your body's natural weight belt.
When doing stomach exercises if your whole stomach tenses up or your upper abdomen bulges outwards then
you are using your rectus abdominus (six pack muscles) instead of your core.Its just a small movement required for TVA endurance.
I will show you how to activate these vital postural muscles.
Posture
Many people do not realise how important posture is. Poor posture can lead to injuries and a lack of mobility.
In my initial assessment I will do a comprehensive posture examination and examine your core strength.
Most people have atleast a small postural problem, the main 2 being Kyphosis and Lordosis. Many offfice
workers have rounded shoulders (Kyphosis) which indicates tight muscles in the chest and weak muscles in the upper back. This
posture type can put pressure on your skeleton. Another posture type is Lordosis. This is when you have an excessive
curve in your lower spine and can give the impression that your stomach is larger than it actually is.
Postural defects can be corrected and with the right kind of training not only will you feel better
but you will look better too. Working on your posture can give you the appearance of being longer and leaner.
