Misuse of “Core” Terminology
- Lance McCullough
- Jan 11, 2017
- 2 min read
A topic I have been thinking about lately – core training. Sometimes a new client will tell me that their doctor or
chiropractor has told them that they have a “weak core” or they need to “strengthen their core.”
Strong Body = Strong Core
You see, you can’t have a weak core and a strong body, nor a strong core and a weak body. If you have a strong body, you will automatically have a strong core. If you have a weak core, you will automatically have a weak body.
What commonly happens is having imbalanced core muscles, as I discuss in the 30 Minute Body section on injury prevention and rehabilitation. An imbalanced core affects specific areas or muscles. To fix this, a specific course of action is needed to rehabilitate the affected weakness, and bring back a proper balanced core.
Weak vs. Unconditioned Muscles
There is a difference between muscles that are weak and muscles that are unconditioned. You can have strong core muscles, but they might not be conditioned for a certain use. You can also have well-conditioned muscles that are not strong. For example, a powerlifter will have a strong single-rep squat, but not necessarily conditioned to run a 10K. Likewise, a 10K runner probably doesn’t have leg muscles conditioned for a single rep squat.
Baseline of Strength
A 30-minute workout done 3 times a week will give most people a baseline of good overall health and fitness. From the baseline, you can gear your training program to enhance a desired sport or activity. But remember – you can never train to handle every type of challenge.
So if you hear someone say that their core is weak, call on your common sense. Please don’t follow the leader. Make sure you’re using the information you’ve learned and common sense.
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