If you are looking to build your abs, you should know the following key aspects about the CORE in order to have continued success without injury.
The core is where the body’s center of gravity is located and where all movement originates. It is responsible for stabilizing, aligning, and moving the trunk of the body. The movement system consists of muscles that connect the spine to the extremities making them primarily responsible for concentric and eccentric activities. It is important to understand that these muscles enhance stability and neuromuscular control.
Read this post to learn which muscles make up the following systems. For now I just want you to know what these systems do and why they are important to develop.
The local stabilization system consists of muscles that attach directly to the vertebrae. They are responsible for providing support from vertebra to vertebra. These muscles aid in proprioception and postural control.
The global stabilization system is made up of muscles that attach from the pelvis to the spine. These muscles help transfer loads between upper and lower extremities. They provide stability between pelvis and spine and stabilization and eccentric control during functional movement.
The movement system is comprised of muscles that attach the spine and/or pelvis to the extremities. These muscles produce force, reduce force, and provide stabilization in all planes of movement.
To build a proper foundation one should train the local stabilization system first, the global stabilization systems second and the movement system third. From a structural and biomechanical standpoint this is the most efficient way to avoid muscle imbalances that weaken the core creating a fundamental problem of poor movement and injury. Through these steps you are in essence training the body from the inside to the outside ensuring a strong core that can maintain proper muscle balance throughout the entire kinetic chain.