What Makes up the Core?
- Diaphragm: Dome shaped muscles underneath your lower ribcage of the core. It is your primary breathing muscle. When breathing with the diaphragm, the stomach expands on the inhale and retracts on the exhale.
- Abdominals:
- Transversus Abdominus- deepest abdominal muscle that produces no MAJOR observable motion, but functions as an internal corset.
- Rectus abdominus: produces spinal flexion (think of crunches or sit-ups)
- External Obliques (E.O.): produces rotation to the opposite side (right E.O. causes rotation to the left)
- Internal Obliques (I.O.): produces rotation to the same side (right I.O. produces rotation right).
- Pelvic Floor: group of muscles that allow you to hold your bladder if you have to urinate. When functioning properly, they’re actually contracted until you decide to relieve your bladder, at which point the muscles relax to allow that to happen.
- Erector Spinae: Big strappy muscles along the length of your back- used to help one stand upright or arch the back (spinal extension)
- Multifidi: Small muscles along the length of your back (close to the spine- you can’t see them).
- When functioning on both sides at the same time they produce spinal extension like the erector spinae.
- Working one side at a time produces same side lateral flexion and opposite side rotation (right side activates and produces side bending toward the right and rotation toward the left)
What is the role of the core?
- Provide stability to the spine and trunk
- Regulates internal pressure to keep organs in place
- Produces a variety of truncal movements (see above)
- Allows for urinary continence
- Allows for even force distribution throughout the body
- Increases balance stability
Why Physical Therapy?
- Personalized Care- the above exercises are an example of some core exercises that can be done and may not be appropriate for everyone. Check with your healthcare provider before beginning a new exercise regimen.
- Increased Strength
- Increased Mobility
- Reduced/Absent Pain
- Improved Body-Awareness
- Education regarding your condition and how to manage it
Our licensed Doctors of Physical Therapy are able to prescribe a treatment plan to address YOUR specific injury. If the condition proves to require further medical testing, the evaluating therapist will be able to determine that and direct you accordingly.
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