Raise your hand if you suffer or have suffered from back pain.
There’s probably quite a few of you that can say they fall into this category. Especially as we age, this pain only seems to get worse, am I right? The culprit to this annoyance many of us experience may be a direct result of a weak core. A strong rectus abdominis as well as transverse abdominis are two staple parts of the human core. These muscles, running from below your sternum down to your waist, are vital to performing everyday activities. These muscles allow us to bend over and stand up while protecting your back. They work together with other core muscles to assist with posture.
Just as abs work to protect your back, back muscles support your abs to make things like sitting up right at your desk or bending down to tie your shoe possible.
Building up core strength reaps with benefits. Aside from some I just said, building a strong core will make day to day activities easier for the rest of your life. Oblique muscles, running down each side of your torso from your ribs to your waist make day to day functions possible, such as twisting and bending. These muscles are key when it comes to swinging the golf ball or playing tennis. The list of benefits for a strong core are endless. In order to continue to do the activities that we love, for as long as we can, it is important to be mindful of the muscles needed to make these things happen, and to continue to train these muscles on a weekly basis.
-Taylor St. Cyr, Exercise Physiologist at Dedham Health