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You
rely on your body to get out of bed,
lift your children, perform your job
and take you places everyday. If you
appreciate what your body does for
you, you will provide it with nutritious
food, hydrate it with water and be
sure to add some activity into your
day.
While
our limbs provide mobility, reach
and strength, it is our body core
that provides the basis of each movement.
Sedentary lives can cause our body
core muscles to weaken and become
subject to strain or injury. Even
if you workout or participate in sports,
you may not be working the body core
muscles you rely on to perform.
In
our Chiropractic West offices, chiropractor
Dr. Debra Pear will work in conjunction
with our rehab and core strengthening
specialist (Carlos Requejo of Core
Response 310-977-7980) to provide
a thorough patient history and exercise
restrictions, if needed. Our goal
is to deliver passive chiropractic/acupuncture/massage
therapy to meet your acute medical
needs. We also focus on implementing
active core strengthening so you will
be able to achieve your health goals
faster and for a longer duration.
What
is my body core?
Your body core is the midsection of
your body, from your groin to your
shoulders. The core includes the pelvis,
abs, back and chest muscles. It is
this core that offers stability, balance
and flexibility. Every movement you
make originates in the core, whether
you are reaching for your toothbrush
or running a marathon. If the core
is not properly conditioned, it will
limit your physical abilities.
Working
the muscles in your body core will
improve the effectiveness of movements
in your limbs. Most exercise routines
focus on building muscle. By creating
a stable, strong base for those muscles,
you can optimize the strength and
flexibility of each limb.
How
do I strengthen my body core?
There
are many exercise routines and products
that work the muscles of the body
core. Our rehab specialists at Chiropractic
West will create customized routines
to enhance an athlete's abilities
by developing the proper core muscles.
However, there are also many programs
developed for individuals who wish
to incorporate it into their fitness
routine or to begin one.
The
exercises and products developed to
strengthen your body core work by
creating resistance or instability
so that the core muscles must respond
to maintain balance. The exercises
are gentle on the body but are intense—beginners
will quickly “feel” the
muscles being used. Proper alignment
is key, so having Chiropractic West’s
rehab specialists or Pilates instructors
check your position will help identify
the safest and most effective way
to perform an exercise.
Body
core exercises often imitate moves
that we employ in daily life or sports,
and thus train the body to rely on
the core and reduce the strain we
put on our limbs. Two popular forms
of exercise that develop core body
strength are Pilates and the Swiss
ball.
Pilates
uses the body as its own form of resistance.
Learning to breathe properly and perform
slow, controlled movements allows
a person to isolate and strengthen
core muscles.
The
Swiss ball (also known as a Fitness
ball) is an easy and fun way to strengthen
the body core. While there are many
exercises that can be performed with
the Swiss ball, simply sitting on
it will create the instability needed
to engage the core muscles to maintain
balance.
Good
core strength is important at every
age and fitness level. Whatever your
goals, find a way to work body core
conditioning into your routine to
reduce fatigue, avoid muscle strain
and improve strength and mobility.
Other
Services
•
General
Chiropractic
•
Massage
•
Acupuncture
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