Strength Training Anatomy - Strenghten Your Core

Core strength training has become a hot topic in the fitness industry recently, and superficial fitness buffs merely assume that it basically means intensive abdominal exercises. However, it isn't just about your abs at all, because other muscles make up your core as well. Aside from your surface and deeper abdominals, these include the muscles on your trunk and torso, namely the cervical or upper region of the spine, the thoracic or middle region of the spine, and lower back, or the lumbar region.

Looking at the location of these muscles, you can tell that core strength training then is to support the spine, shoulders and pelvis by strengthening the surrounding muscles, and to fortify the strength of your mid-section, so that it may lend power to the rest of your body. If you didn't have any strength in these muscles then you probably couldn't even stand. Strong pelvis muscles helps to strengthen your legs. Strengthening the shoulder frame will give power to your arms. Supporting the spine will keep everything all under control.

Having good core strength helps prevent you from being injured as well as giving you more control of your physical actions and better balance. One such injury that core strength training is employed for is when you have a susceptible lower back. Lower back pain is not limited to athletes and fitness subscribers, it is a problem among anyone with a weak spine. Some individuals get into core strength training because they initially sought to cure their back pain woes.

Core training exercises are composed of exercises that work these parts of the body. Bridges, or exercises where you brace yourself up from the floor with your elbow and arm facing different positions. The prone bridge develops strength in your trunk and pelvis, the lateral bridge in your abdomen, while the supine bridge, where you prop your hips up diagonally to the floor, anchored by your upper body and feet, develops the gluteal muscles. An exercise called the Plank, or a hovering exercise, is similar to these bridge exercises.

Use Russian Twists to help develop your upper and middle body. For abtomen and muscles in your lumbar region you can use pelvic thrusts. Core strength exercises must successfully not only develop one muscle area, but several simultaneously. Other exercises that strengthen different groups of core muscles are squats, lunges, push ups, lateral pull downs, back extensions, chin ups and different crunches.

Pilates has helped advance core strength training by bringing in more an more alternative exercises. You can train using stability and medicine balls and other products like wobble and balance boards.

Start simple with your core strength training program. Begin with the basics, crunches and push ups. If you'd like to continue a do-it-yourself program, you could also incorporate yoga into your exercise regimen, as you learn balance and centering from yoga and keep you focused on your core, what it is, what it needs.

If you would rather have guidance in core strength training, find a trainer you're comfortable with and willing to figure out an ideal core training program for you. Now that you know what it is, it's much easier to find what you need.

Mary Meade's goal is to offer great tips, advice and info on. To learn more go to strength training anatomy [strengthtraininganatomy.net] and core strength training [strengthtraininganatomy.net].