Coaches Corner

Core Fitness Unpacked

Many athletes ignore Core Fitness Exercises in there running preparation and training, particularly un-coached athletes, in perhaps considering them unnecessary and provide little benefit to their performance overall. In fact, modern coaching approaches, now see the benefits that the Core plays in athletes enhancement.

Think of the core muscles as the sturdy central link in a chain connecting the upper and lower body. Whether hitting a tennis ball or sweeping the floor, the necessary motions either originate in your core, or move through it.

No matter where motion starts, it ripples upward and downward to adjoining links of the chain. Thus week or inflexible core muscles can impair how well your arms and legs function.

The core consists of the muscles in the midsection, or torso, surrounding the spine and pelvis. This includes the abdominal muscles at the front, but also muscles within the lower back, abdominal muscles, diaphragm, pelvic muscles, and hip muscles—that sit around  the midsection. The core muscles are not considered powerful, but they play a fundamental role in stabilising the spine and pelvis. They’re also key to maintaining good posture. These functions are important to ensure that limbs move easily. The core asset also protects against injury.

Core muscles are used while performing daily tasks like getting up from a chair, standing, walking, vacuuming and lifting things. The core muscles therefore, are also significant and play an important role in athletic activities like running, jumping, throwing and lifting weights.

The following are areas of improvement which enhance athletic performance through a Core Fitness regime:- Agility, Flexibility, Balance, Posture, Coordination, Stability, Movement.

Each of these items are essential components required improve running technique and most importantly, to provide protection to injury risks.