Why is abdominal strength important

An upright posture can help you survive sitting or standing for long periods of time. It is important to have a strengthen core because it keeps your body aligned, eliminates back pain, and increases your overall exercise output.

Healthy Living. Importance of Core Strength. By Dr. Having a strong core is more important than a six-pack will ever be. Here are four big reasons why -- and the difference between abs and your core. Read more: The best ab exercises for a stronger core. To understand just how vital strong core muscles are, it helps to know exactly what makes up your core. Many people think "core" is synonymous with "abs," but that's not true. Your core does include your abdominal muscles, but it also includes the many muscles that move your hips and your back.

Finally, your pelvic floor muscles -- a collection of small muscles supporting your bladder, bowel and reproductive organs -- are part of your core, too. And, not to throw another curveball, but visible abs do not always equate to a strong core. Having visible abs just means your body fat percentage is low enough to show the muscle fibers beneath subcutaneous fat. Picture your core as a sturdy, stable cylinder around your spine and vital organs. With a strong core, you'd be able to activate and engage that cylinder any time your spine and organs faced danger -- like during a heavy squat or deadlift.

Study after study after study has shown that core strength training can reduce back pain, although some research suggests that full-body strength training would be more effective than core strength training alone which is probably true.

Research also shows that core strength may be a factor in preventing injuries, due to the nature of core musculature and the spine. Without proper support during movement, your spine is at risk for injury -- the less stable your spine, the greater the risk for injury.

A study of runners published in the Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research found that runners who did six weeks of core strength training increased their speed in a m run. Having a strong core is just one part of the equation, though; you also need to know how to use it. McHale agrees: "It's more about increasing the person's awareness of the muscle, then once they're able to activate it, it's much easier to activate that muscle in all exercises.

But before you add massive sets of Russian twists and leg lifts to your workout, listen up: "You're at a higher risk for injury when repeating patterns such as flexion and rotation of the spine ex: crunches or medicine ball twists if done too frequently or incorrectly," says Jennings.

Instead, focus on stabilization or anti-rotation moves that keep your back from going into extension, like planks , she says. And next time you catch yourself counting abs in the mirror, remember: It's what's deeper that really counts. Photo of Lauren Mazzo. By Lauren Mazzo April 02, Save FB Tweet More. Be the first to comment! No comments yet. Close this dialog window Add a comment. Sit-ups, crunches and planks will target these muscles directly, and adding unstable surfaces like Swiss balls can enhance the activation.

But remember, other types of physical activity, like going for a jog or doing squats, can help your core strength too. Read more: How much do sedentary people really need to move? It's less than you think. Portsmouth Climate Festival — Portsmouth, Portsmouth. Edition: Available editions United Kingdom. Become an author Sign up as a reader Sign in. Andrew Lavender , Federation University Australia. So, what exactly is the core? And why is it important to have good core strength?

Exercise injury prevention.