Core muscles play a huge role

Exercise is one of the ways to improve your physical wellbeing and it aids in great measure to get rid of ailments, aches and pains. Follow the exercise programme provided by the biokineticists at Anine van der Westhuizen Biokineticist in George and feel the difference. In the last two articles biokineticist Megan van Huyssteen talked about balance and stability, this week she discusses your core muscles - your main support system.

Your core muscles play a huge role in your everyday activities, from getting out of bed to walking down the street, but most importantly, they literally help you stay upright. That's because your core muscles are the base of support for your entire body.

They completely surround and support your spine and pelvis and connect your upper body and lower body, effectively transferring forces from one to the other.

An anatomy refresher

Your abs aren't just one muscle. The deepest layer of abdominal muscles and arguably the most important, is your transversus abdominis, which stabilises your spine and pelvis. Then you have two layers of oblique muscles, which control lateral flexion (a side bend), rotation, and other spinal movements.

The top muscle, the rectus abdominis, runs vertically in the front of your abdomen and is the muscle you see as a six-pack. It flexes your torso forward, like in a crunch. The pelvic floor muscles, the multifidus (back muscles), stabilise your spine and your diaphragm (the main muscle involved in breathing).

The majority of people have weak abs, but often their core isn't necessarily weak - their body just isn't in the optimal position to use them, and they may not know how to engage the muscles.

This could be due to prolonged sitting, hunching, or even overextending / arching (which many people think equals good posture).

Core exercises train the muscles in your pelvis, lower back, hips and abdomen to work in harmony. Strong core muscles make it easier to do most physical activities.

Strong core muscles will also help improve your posture. If your core is weak, you're more likely to slouch over, since it's harder to keep yourself upright.

Good posture is better for your spine, and prevents and alleviates lower back pain.