23 Feb What’s the difference between the core and the abdominal muscles?
Posted at 18:44h
in Core Activation
All these structures need to work together in order for you to have an optimal mid-section. Your midsection is vital for your balance on the horse (you shouldn’t be holding on with your legs) and your ability to absorb the horses movement.
The abdominal muscles (obliques and rectus abdominis) are muscles that create movement in the spine we need crunches, leg raises, woodchops etc. to strengthen these muscles. The oblique muscles are in charge of rotation so if you are twisted through your upper body in the saddle, you’ll want to concentrate on these exercises. Where as, the core muscles – (the TVA, pelvic floor, and diaphragm) are there for stability, to stabilise the spine. For these we need isometric exercises where we are holding a contraction and adding in the BREATHING. If you’re not breathing properly you’re not using your core correctly. Without the breathing technique you’re not getting the most out of the core muscles. Your deep core muscles help keep you upright, if they’re weak your lower back muscles will take over and BINGO low back pain! If you’re starting out you might only be able to hold a core exercise for 20-30 seconds. Remember quality over quantity, start slow. We want to be feeling our core muscles working without our hip flexors and lower back taking over, then we can apply this into bigger exercises, into every day movement and our riding.
So breathing is KING in core training for riding. We will be learning to utilise our core correctly in the coming Reconnect with your Core express. I can’t wait to share this program with you all.
