Core Muscles
Understanding How Your Core Muscles Work
Core muscles are the muscles around your stomach area which work to keep you upright. We all have them and some of us want to show them to the world. But let’s look at each of our core muscles individually and see what they actually do.
Rectus Abdominis
The rectus abdominis is a key muscle where posture is concerned. When completing a move like the crunch the rectus abdomini flexes the lumbar spine. The rectus abdominis also assists with breathing and assists in keeping the internal organs intact.
External Oblique
The external obliques are the pair of abdominal muscles that lie next to the internal obliques. They run in an inverted V from the bottom of the ribs to the front of the pelvis. When you perform an excercise like the twist, the external oblique muscles will be the ones working the hardest.
Internal Olique
The Internal Obliques are underneath the external obliques. They run from the pelvis to the ribs. When you perform a crunch the internal obliques are the muscles which pull your spine forward. They are also the muscles most utilised in a twist movement. Due to their position they contribute more towards stabilizing the pelvis and spine.
Transverse Abdominis
The Transversus Abdomnius is the deepest of the abdominal wall muscles. It is the most important muscle group for stabilizing and supporting the lower back. It’s only real purpose is to stabilise the lower back and when you move it is the first muscle to be activated. If you suffer from lower back pain it usually means you have a problem with this area making your spine less stable.
So each one of our core muscles has a role to play and it’s important we train and look after them properly.