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In this recent news story,
Combat
to the Core, Staff Sgt. Carlos Diaz discusses strengthening of our
service men and women discusses a comprehensive approach to their
abdominal training.
Here are a few excerpts:
"Core strength refers to abdominal and back muscles used to support the
spine and keep bodies stable and balanced." and
"In general, strength core exercises such as Pilates and yoga have
become very popular over the years because they concentrate on building
good posture."
In this article it also shows the service men and women engaging in
sit-ups. Let’s take this point by point:
- Yes, the "core" does involve the abdominals and
back, but what about the activation of the glutes and hip complex and
their role stabilizing the pelvis?
- Yes, posture is very important and determines the
athete’s ability to activate and engage the appropriate musculature for
specific movements. Bad posture will spawn dysfunctional and
compensation. Pilates and yoga inherently promote better flexibility,
but how much is needed? Be careful as some yoga asanas engage extreme
positions and could lead to promoting flexibility in areas that require
stability, namely the lower lumbar. Improve the tension / length
relationships of the musculature and surrounding soft tissue and execute
a balance of movements, i.e. a push for a pull during your workouts.
- Stop doing sit-ups! This hip flexor dominate
exercise only acts to exacerbate tight hips, anterior pelvic tilt, glute
dysfunction and over-active hamstrings. Get off your back and start
moving!
About the Author
Jim Smith is a Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist who writes
for Men's Fitness and the Elite Q/A Staff. Jim has been involved in
strength training as a performance enhancement specialist for over 8 years
and has worked with athletes from various sports who compete at various
levels. He has published articles about his unique training style and
innovative methods for many prominent strength and fitness related sites.
He is also the authored of three renowned strength manuals. For more
innovative training solutions, visit
www.CombatCoreStrength.com.
For real core strength, check out:
www.CombatCoreStrength.com
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