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Core Stability
Core stability or
trunk
stabilization is the trendy buzz word of 2007, but it's
something that physical therapists have used for decades in
rehabilitation
of spinal conditions and injuries. Physical therapists have
known the
importance of multifidus and transversus abdominus and
used exercise ball exercises in their
clinics for over 30 years.
Like
many areas that remain undeveloped in bodybuilders and weightlifters,
if they're out of sight, they're out of mind. The stabilizing
musculature of the body lies deep beneath the glamorous one's
they like
to display.
Stability does not just mean strength. I have treated many
bodybuilders, professional and amateur athletes, and gym rats with low
back pain. The strongest weight lifters and body builders can
have huge abdominal musculature and yet have a functionally unstable
spine, resulting in back pain. People either don't know about
them, don't know how to activate them, or don't care, until they are
injured.
The transversus abdominus, multifidus, rotatores, pelvic floor muscles
and the
diaphragm all work to stabilize the spine to provide a platform for
strong dynamic limb movements. Yoga, Pilates, exercise balls, tai
bo, etc. all target core strength using rapidly changing acceleration
and momentum.
The endurance of abdominal and paravertebral muscles is important as it
serves to maintain core stability over a prolonged period of time
against moderate resistance. This serves to ensure dynamic stability of
the joints during movements of the extremities. Dynamic
stability
is the ability to maintain the joint surfaces within the physiological
limits of its surrounding structures (capsule lig. etc) when movement
is taking place either in the trunk or the extremities.
Dynamic
instability
resulting from insufficient strength or endurance of
stabilizing muscles and may cause abnormal shearing movements and
stresses
to occur which cause degenerative changes within the joint complexes of
the spine. These degenerative changes initially manifesting
as
hypermobility or instability
may progress to multilevel spondylosis or arthritis if
left untreated.core stabil
ity
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