Getting and Staying in Shape - Finding the Best Core Stability Exercises

By Thaya Kareeson

Core stability exercises are not merely abdominal exercises. This misconception probably stems from the "6-pack ABS" being marketed as the major symbol of fitness and attractiveness that men and women both strive to achieve.

A proper core stability exercise routine should activate a larger set muscles. Choosing the right routine to improve your core stability can improve general fitness, improve athletic performance, and reduce back pain.

Let me explain the broader meaning of the term "core". Core stability exercises strengthen your body's torso, the body part that responsible for providing support for everyday movements. Strengthening the torso "core" can help you avoid back and neck pains caused by performing these same movements too often.

A strong torso is required to support strong arms and legs. Movements from strong arms and legs are not as effective without good base support for a strong torso. Because of this, core stability exercises are extremely important for improving competitive edge in any competitive sport.

How do you build and maintain core stability?

Core exercise variation is key to achieving the best results. Some core exercises can be done without using equipment aid such as push-ups and crunches. Other exercises can be done using light equipment aids such as stability balls, balance balls, dumbbells, and medicine balls. You should definitely experiment with these light equipment aids as they are quite effective at delivering results.

Weight lifting machines such as machine assisted crunches, bench presses, or parallel bar dips can also be used to improve core strength, but at the cost of adding bulk. You want to develop core strength and stability, not just strength. Your best bet is to keep a good balance of these high resistance exercises with the low resistance exercises previously mentioned.

Hiring a personal trainer can help take the guess work out of developing core muscles as they are a complicated muscle group. Each muscle group that make up core muscles should be targeted a certain way, so best results will come from listening to an experienced trainer. - 29951

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