If you imagine your trunk as an onion with layers of rings from the inside (core) all the way to the outside this will represent our muscle support network. Typically, the center of the onion is engaged and supports the spine (in ideal situation). This provides our brain with a feeling of security, i.e., stability, which allows for us to excute a full range of motion across that particular joint. In simplest terms we require stability for full mobility to be executed safely and efficiently.

Mobility without stability is what leads to repetitious stress, degeneration and injury.  If your joint is unstable internally and you create motion across this joint it leads to micro trauma that accumulates over time.

If the center of your onion is weak your brain will naturally look for help in providing the much needed stabilization. So, what does it do? You guessed it. The brain will start to recruit other layers of the ‘onion’ and squeeze the inside, ‘core’, from the outside in.

Can you begin to see how inefficient this is?

What’s more is that these muscle groups were not designed to fire all day and support the spine. This is why they begin to fatigue, ache and cause you pain.

Following is a diagram of the core muscles of the spine:

It is the Multifidus, External/Internal Oblique muscles and the Transverse Abdominis that play a crucial role in stabiliation of the pelvis and the spine so that full range of motion can be achieved with proper stability.

The Psoas muscle also plays an integral role in core support and stability.  A deconditioned core will tend to cause a gradual 'unraveling' of your muscular support network from the inside out.  This is often the missing link in a lifelong struggle with chronic low back pain.

Often times in the clinical setting this simple step is overlooked.  At Midtown Total Health we pride ourselves on integrating advanced technologies in health care.  It is for this reason we've integrated the ATM2 for clinical core strengthening and stability right here in Manhattan, New York City.

Call us now to start enjoying the benefits of a healthy and conditioned core.

Learn more about core stability training and Watch a video of the ATM2 in action.

According to a prospective study on 100 ATP players, 40% were found to have had presence of low back symptoms for greater than 2 weeks limiting tennis performance (Vad, Dines, & Altchek, 2002), and were categorized by the authors as symptomatic low back sufferers. In studies ATMs have been found to immediately reduce pain, and increase range of motion in low back sufferers (Moran, 2002). Additionally, clinical data demonstrates a significant reduction in the amount of treatments necessary to resolve various specific and non-specific lumbar disorders (Archambault, 2002).