Center of Attention: Part 1

There is a lot of hype surrounding core workouts and for good reason. Your core is a vital part in sports performance. Unfortunately the term "core" as it refers fitness, has become misunderstood. Even more misunderstood is how to increase core strength. Television has led people to believe that the abs are the core of the body. People claiming to be fitness gurus will tell you to try their revolutionary ab workout using a scientifically proven technique. Usually they will plaster their name on it "JJ's Total Core Zapper". It must be good if they have their name on a product? Right? Enough sarcasm.

Your core is more than sexy abs. The core or lumbopelvic hip complex is made up of 29 pairs of muscles which include the anterior rectus abdominis, transverse abdominis, internal & external obliques, posterior erector spinae, multifidus, hips, hamstrings, & gluteus. You may not recognize some of these muscles because they are not the "sexy muscles". Can you imagine telling someone that you are going to the gym to work multifidus & erector spinae? That might sound outrageous but it's a great idea. The core helps to transfer torque when throwing, kicking, & swinging. For golfers & baseball players, your core transfers torque when you swing the club/bat or throw a ball. For field athletes, your core helps you maintain your center of gravity when you have to make a quick change in direction. 

The core is an important link in the kinetic chain. We all know that a chain is only as strong as it's weakest link. A weakness in the kinetic chain will force your body to compinsate for the weakness. This could lead to nagging pain or injury. Failure to train the lumbopelvic hip complex is depriving yourself of optimal performance & setting yourself up for injury. 

Why?

Have you ever thought about your workout routine?  Why do you work one body part during one session? (which is totally ridiculous unless it's legs) Why do you spend an hour on the treadmill? Why are you using weight machines and not free weights? Are you exercising or are you training? Anyone can exercise even kids. Training is doing specific exercises with a purpose to achieve a goal. Do you have a goal? Why have you not achieved your goal. Let's say you want to increase muscle definition & you give yourself an hour to workout 5 days a week. You run on the treadmill for 40 minutes & hit the weights for 20 minutes. I would suggest spending the bulk of your time on the weights & cut down the time that you spend on the treadmill. If you have done the same routine for years & can't see a change in your appearance or performance, it's time for a change.