The importance of core stability (for everybody)
Some thoughts from my 20 years experience as a physiotherapist.
Dancers are judged by their ability to transform strength into graceful movements. Athletes by their ability to transform coordination into strength and speed. These performances can happen thanks to the perfect synchronisation of many muscles moving some joints and stabilizing others. This coordination work wouldn’t be possible without a stable (but not stiff) core in the centre of the body controlling efficient movement.
As an extreme example - just think of what would happen if our lower back was a piece of rubber. We would certainly be very flexible but what would happen if you tried to stand on one leg and swing the other? Without core stability the whole upper body would be swaying trying to contra balance the leg movement! Or what about lifting our babies or landing from a jump, kicking or throwing a ball? The body needs a point of steadiness (again not stiffness) to allow the extremities to perform efficiently in a relaxed or quick way, with strong or delicate movements.
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