We have all been told on numerous occasions that maintaining our core is good for us. But what really is our core and why is it so important?

The core is a group of muscles located in your trunk that help to hold us upright. Not only do we have our abdominis muscles (Abs), these are the ones seen when people have 6 packs. But we also have a range of other muscles deeper inside, including pelvic floor muscles, obliques, the diaphragm and many more.

All these muscles work together to stabilise our bodies when we move.

It is very similar to the guy ropes on a tent. The ropes are located on each side of the tent and pull equally to keep it upright. It is the same with our core muscles; they work all round our trunk to keep us is the right position. Some of the muscles are even used when we turn or twist our bodies – so are very important in movement.

The core is also very important for spinal health, as they help support the spine. The spine is like the poles inside the tent. So without the support of the guy ropes, it would twist and could fall down. The same goes for our bodies, without these core muscles supporting our spine they are more prone to instability and injury.

There are loads of different exercises and exercise regimes for your core. All working in the same way to strengthen and support the muscles. The important thing is finding exercises that work for you, which are within your ability and can be done regularly. Speaking to your chiropractor will help you find ones that work for you.

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