Core exercises: Why you should strengthen your core muscles You know core exercises are good for you — but do you include core exercises in your fitness routine? By Mayo Clinic Staff.
Related information Slide show: Exercises to improve your core strength Slide show: Core-strength exercises with a fitness ball. Open pop-up dialog box Bridge exercise Close. Bridge exercise Do the bridge to strengthen your core muscles. Thank you for Subscribing Our Housecall e-newsletter will keep you up-to-date on the latest health information. Please try again. Something went wrong on our side, please try again.
Show references Chang WD, et al. Core strength training for patients with chronic low back pain. Journal of Physical Therapy Science. Rivera CE. Core and lumbopelvic stabilization in runners. Martuscello JM, et al. Systematic review of core muscle activity during physical fitness exercises. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research. Haff GG, et al. Exercise technique for alternative modes and nontraditional implement training. In: Essentials of Strength Training.
Improved functional fitness allows you to perform everyday tasks, such as walking, bending, lifting and squatting, more easily. Core training reduces the risk for low back pain.
Weak core muscles often lead to low back pain. Strong core muscles help you maintain correct posture and reduce strain on your spine. Core training reduces the risk for various health problems. In fact, a strong, flexible core underpins almost everything you do:. Weak, tight, or unbalanced core muscles can undermine you in any of these realms. And while it's important to build a strong core, it's unwise to aim all your efforts at developing rippling abs.
Overtraining abdominal muscles while snubbing muscles of the back and hip can set you up for injuries and cut athletic prowess.
If washboard abs are your holy grail, it's essential to trim body fat through diet and aerobic exercise and build strong abdominal muscles through frequent core exercise sessions. As a service to our readers, Harvard Health Publishing provides access to our library of archived content. Please note the date of last review or update on all articles.
No content on this site, regardless of date, should ever be used as a substitute for direct medical advice from your doctor or other qualified clinician. Thanks for visiting. Don't miss your FREE gift. The core is at the center of your body, it encompasses your abs, hips, back, and chest. Your core stabilizes your body, allowing you to move in any direction as well as having proper balance. It helps prevents falls and supports your body. So having a strong core is beneficial to everyone because it allows your body to function properly.
Core exercises train the muscles in your pelvis, lower back, hips and abdomen to work together.
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