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Medical Video: ABS 101 - Step by Step Six Pack Plan! (TARGET EVERY AREA)
The core muscle is a series of complex muscles, which stretches from the lower chest muscles, stomach, back, to the muscles around the pelvis. Core muscles play a role in stabilizing and protecting the spine, and are incorporated in almost every human body movement.
Think of your core muscles as the main link of the chain that connects your upper and lower body. Whether you are hitting a tennis ball or mopping the floor, the necessary movements can come from the core muscles of your body or move through them.
Many people argue that training core muscles is identical to the program forming a six-pack stomach. Not many know that the benefits of training core muscles are more than just exercises to form the abdominal muscles.
What are the benefits of training the body's core muscles?
In addition to occasional sit-ups and push-ups, unfortunately core exercises are often ignored. Training the core muscles will be very beneficial for you to achieve optimal body fitness. Read on to find out more about the benefits of core muscle training.
1. Prevent injury
Bending to wear shoes, lifting a heavy box, turning to look back, sitting in a chair, driving, or just standing still - these are just a few of the many daily routines that rely heavily on your core muscles, and that you may not realize until the body feels stiff or sick. The long sitting and minimal exercise weakens the muscles of the middle part of your body.
Weak or inflexible core muscles can interfere with the function of the arms and legs. And that drains from every movement you make. Training the core muscles properly can boost their strength. Developing a strong torso means building the stability and strength of the core muscles.
But, "It's important to build core stability first, and then build core strength to sculpt ideal six-pack stomachs," said Martha Purdy, a physiotherapist and Pilates instructor at the Halifax Health Center, reported by Best Health Magazine.
Strong core muscles can stabilize your body's coordination and work like a natural impact barrier for your joints to help reduce pain from injury and prevent falls and injuries during sports or other physical activities.
READ ALSO: Already Diligent in Sports But Stomach Has Not Sixpack Also? This is the reason
2. Give good posture
Weak core muscles contribute to the habit of bending. Core muscle training exercises the muscles in your lower back, hips, stomach, and pelvis as your actual center of gravity, to work in harmony. When you strengthen your upper back and shoulders, the muscles are pulled back and down so that they remove traces of the hunched body - giving you a stable and good posture. Good posture makes you look taller and slimmer, boosting your overall confidence.
READ ALSO: 4 Health Problems Due to Poor Posture
More importantly, stabilizing the core of the body also reduces wear of the spine, allows you to breathe deeper, and hone your fine motor skills. Sharp motor skills allow you to react quickly and stay balanced on unstable surfaces, such as when crossing slippery roads. In addition, good posture also increases your ability to do more intense physical activities, such as running, swimming, rock climbing, or pilates.
3. Delay the premature aging process
Staying fit also means protecting important systems under the surface of the skin. The core of your body is not only where the organs and central nervous system focus their energy, but also where your body's arteries and the largest (and most important) arteries are. About 10 percent of body fat settles between the walls of the stomach and your organs, such as the liver and intestines. That's more dangerous fat, so excess fat in this area can cause a pile of other health problems - from liver disease, dementia, to breast cancer.
Gaining flexibility and stability in the muscles of the abdomen, back and spine will refresh and rejuvenate the body system which helps optimize the process of sending signals to the brain, metabolism, cleansing toxins, absorption of nutrients, regulating hormonal balance - all of which play a role in delaying the aging process. In the end, a strong core makes you look and feel healthy and fit.
