05.20.08
Posted in Core Strength, Core Training System, General Info, Neuromuscular, Working Out at 9:26 am by Fit Guy
there is no cookie cutter approach to functional fitness, per se. sure, there might be general routine to follow, but the key is to realize that each exercise is also an assessment. for instance, i’ll have everyone start with the same basic exercises. however, each person will reveal different imbalances and need to correct “personalized” faults during the exercises. next, each person will need to add/subtract exercises based on their current level and personal progress. the starting routine is a rule of thumb, but it must always be designed to evolve with you.
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05.18.08
Posted in Core Strength at 12:52 pm by Fit Guy
OK. You want a strong core. Why? Are you in pain? If so, you want core stability. Are you an athlete? If so, you want to progressively train for core performance. Do you understand the difference?
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03.06.07
Posted in Core Strength, General Info, Neuromuscular, Posture at 7:15 pm by Fit Guy
It seems everyone is using Swiss Balls for rehab and sports performance, but why? The balls activate the “core” and also increase the spinal loading (i.e., not good for rehab). The ball activate the “core” while you are not standing in gravity and only partially dealing with ground reactive forces (i.e., not good for sports performance). The balls are good for a change of pace to stimulate the nervous system and a different workout, but not as the primary workout.
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02.26.07
Posted in Core Strength at 5:38 am by Fit Guy
The term neutral wasn’t originally meant to suggest a static posture, but rather a safe of ROM. It’s become rather pedantic with so many people taking a literal approach and saying, “there is no neutral spine.” Actually there IS a neutral spinal, but it’s relative to a specific postural configuration and fleeting moment in time, it’s transitory.
IMO people are struggling with the concept, because they don’t recognize the difference between the needs of a rehab patient, regular Joe, and/or an athlete. For example, the training approach for a person with a flexion provoked lower back is done while maintaining a more rigid lumbar posture and an athlete will progressively increase lumbar spine ROM to a level right beneath tissue overload.
It’s all very relative to a person’s needs, but the nomenclature is very vocation specific or in other words fitness trainers, ATC, DC’s, PT’s and MD’s all use different lingo!
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02.25.07
Posted in Core Strength, General Info, Posture at 4:50 pm by Fit Guy
The most difficult concept for anyone to understand is that balance or the ability to deal with ground reactive forces and postural habits or how you deal with gravity largely determines the length tension about ALL the joints in the body and the core “transfer case” can’t do its job without the proper support below and above. Natural patterns of movement facilitate the motion through the center of the body and each muscle has its role; so, train movement and not muscles in isolation.
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02.06.07
Posted in Core Strength at 6:43 pm by Fit Guy
I’m always asked about how to build a strong core and what exercises are best; so, here’s the answer. You core is part of your body and involved in ALL MOVEMENTS and shouldn’t be trained in isolation, unless during the earliest stages if rehabilitation. If you want a great core workout take a walk on a sandy beach, snow, dirt gravel road, or anywhere other than a flat surface. The constant micro postural adjustments from your feet through the crown of your head are mediated by the core and it’s a cardio-core workout. Interestingly, a sidewalk will allow you to fall into a comfy postural pattern and isn’t encouraging your body to continuously adjust – so what you think is safe is actually causing a repetitive stress or cumulative trauma type scenario.
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