Core stability exercises improve torso strength as a whole. These exercises target many muscles in the torso including abdominal muscles, internal/external obliques, and muscles that run along the spine. Why do these muscles need to be improved?
Torso or core muscles help provide support for your bones during your everyday activities. Improving these muscles will increase your general physical fitness and decrease your likelihood of back and neck pains or injuries from physical activities.
One important thing to remember when performing core stability exercises is to make sure you activate all of your torso muscle groups evenly. The following is a list of five top exercises that will help you activate all of your torso muscles evenly.
1. Straight Crunch. Although old fashion, the straight crunch helps strengthen the “6-pack abs” section of your torso.
2. Crossover Crunch. The crossover crunch helps strengthen the side and front abdomen by adding twist in the typical straight crunch.
3. Back Extension. This exercise works out the muscles that run along your spine and are done by lying on your stomach and contracting your back muscles.
4. Arm Sweep. This exercise targets the obliques. Start by sitting down in a slightly leaned-back manner then start moving your arms in a helicopter style circle while twisting your upper body left and right around your hips.
5. Plank or Push-Up. Finally, the plank or push-up exercises address the “transverse abdominis”, the muscles that are lying in the depth of your abdomen, wrapping around the spine. These muscles protect and stabilize your spine most directly and are crucial in avoiding back pains.
When you mix up these five exercises in a balanced way, you will favor certain muscle groups in each exercise while addressing the “complete package” of core strength training. For best results it may be advisable to use a personal trainer, particularly when you first start with your core stability training. With the help of a trainer you can also venture into more advanced exercises to maintain good core strength.
Looking to find the fastest way to lose weight, then visit tweakfit.com to find out how using a Timex heart rate monitor in your workout routines can help boost your weight loss.
Tags: muscle mass, how to build muscle, bodybuilding program, muscle building