Core strength training is not the traditional crunches and sit ups that target only the abdominals as most people think. The core is much more than just the abdominals. It consists of all the muscles that stabilize the pelvis. It is the center of gravity and where all our movements begin and end. These muscles control all your movements in all directions. Core strength training exercises that target the right muscles not only slim down your waistline but can relieve low back pain, prevent injury, and improve your overall balance.

The core is made up of stabilization and movement muscles which initiate and maintain proper muscular balance during all movements. Developing core strength is crucial to your physical well being whether you are climbing stairs, picking up objects, running, walking, or weight training.

If your stabilization system is week, your other muscles will compensate for most movements leading to muscular imbalance, pain, and worst of all injury. To develop a truly strong core a good core strength training program should target both the stabilization and movement system.

Stabilization includes the transversus abdominis, internal obliques, Lumbar multifidus, pelvic floor, diaphragm, transversospinalis. The movement system includes the latissimus dorsi, erector spinae, iliopsoas, hamstrings, hip adductors, hip abductors, rectus abdominis and external obliques. That’s much more than the abdominals that traditional crunches and sit ups target.

Most core strength training programs leave out the stabilization muscles which is why many people experience low back pain among other types of pain. You can greatly improve your overall fitness, relieve low back pain and prevent injury by performing core exercises that target the stabilization muscles.

Core strength exercises such as crunches and sit ups target the movement muscles. It’s important to strengthen these muscles but performing them without first building stability can lead to injury. They can actually place too much pressure on the discs of the spine if your stabilizers are week and lead to serious pain and eventually injury to the spine.

Having strong abdominals does not mean you have a strong core. Even those who have a six pack may experience low back pain and other types of injury due to the fact that they have week stabilizing muscles. You have to properly train the stabilization system as well as the movement system.

Exercises that target the stabilization system include the bridge, plank, marching and cobra. Exercises that target the movement system include crunches, sit ups, bicycle crunch, leg raises, reverse crunches and back extensions. There are many variations for these exercises. Combine one from each in your core strength training program for the best results.