Few things are more important for preventing back pain than strong core muscles. We don’t just rely on them for lifting or flexibility; we also need them to relieve the burden of weight on our spines. But as their name suggests, there’s more to core muscles than meets the eye. At Kosak Chiropractic in Fairfield, we take a whole-body approach to health, so we want our patients to understand what we mean when we talk about strengthening the core and why so many things depend on it.
The core muscles aren’t just the part of the abdomen we see, which is a muscle called the rectus abdominis. They also comprise muscles of the hips, shoulders, and deeper abdomen. One of the abdominal muscles that does the most to support the organs and spine is the transverse abdominis, which wraps horizontally around the lumbar region. When this muscle is weak, the lower spine may move too far inward and the pelvis might become too mobile. A stable pelvis also requires strong connecting muscles between the lower back and the tops of the femurs. If these muscles or other tissues in that area become frayed and inflamed, a person may develop sciatica.
If you are recovering from an injury, it may not be safe for you yet to engage in typical abdominal exercises, such as planking and bird dogging. Even if you believe you are healthy, it is a good idea to consult with a trained professional in musculoskeletal health about how to devise a work-out. But almost everybody is able to do some kind of exercise, and stretching multiple times a day will help prevent cramps. We can provide advice on posture and corrective exercises at our office after determining a patient’s unique needs and treating them for swelling and dislocations. We can also provide therapeutic massages to aid in workout recovery and nutritional counseling to further fortify the core muscles.
Kosak Chiropractic is located at 1252 Travis Blvd., Suite G, Fairfield, CA, 94533. To schedule an appointment, visit Kosak Chiropractic online or call 707-426-1111.