The Origin Of Your “Core” Revealed!

posture-6-monthsThis baby’s position can teach you about your “true” core If you really want to “get to your core” you have to understand what your “true” core really is!

The approximately 6 month old baby’s position on the left is the same position you got yourself into before you creeped, crawled, or anything else! (called sagittal stability)

This awareness is a prerequisite to good, functional movement and yet according to pediatric neurologists and and physiotherapists from the Czech republic, 1/3 of all children do not develop this ability properly!

The kicker here is that any type of stress tends to create muscle imbalances that cause us, as adults to totally lose connection with this ability.

I call it “deep core amnesia” or DCA for short. DCA is a major problem because, like I said earlier, your inability to anchor your back support zone to the floor causes inefficient and damaging movement patterns that cause overload to your muscles, joints, ligaments, etc.

That’s why our first goal at the Core Wellness Institute is to create a renewed awareness of this “Deep Core Stability System” so you can move with strain-free, efficient ease that preserves and protects your joints from damaging overload!

I have created some “self test” videos so you can see if you’ve developed this amnesia yourself! 

Stay tuned to the blog for more info about how you can keep your body moving pain free for as long as you desire! Think good thoughts.  Eat good food.  And KEEP MOVING!

Dr. Hoffman

 

Comments

  1. I have a very important question regarding the fundamental pattern of sagittal stability: Does the engagement of the “core” and the initiation of IAP create a feeling of global spinal flexion, or extension, or neither?

    It seems that if you’re anchored at the TLJ and trying to lift the buttocks, you would be flexing the spine. Is that correct.

    How does this play out when you’re on the belly and support points shift to ribs and pubic bone?

    Thanks Steve

    • Hi Andrew, ideally it creates a perfectly balanced “co-contraction” of flexors and extensors. That’s centration.

      However…the extension or “phasic” system must be switched on through intentional movement (i.e. pushing away from support points), otherwise we curl up into a flexed forward heap of pain and dysfunction. The perfectly centrated upright posture is very, very fragile.

      Yes, there is a small bit of flexion when you lift your tailbone. Human movement goes through full ranges of flexion and extension for expression and movement. The over arching theme is to have awareness of this saggital stability as a jumping off point for all meaningful and efficient movement.

      The baby belly is all about waking up the extension / phasic system. Watch a 6 month old rock on the front of his/her ribcage. Major neuronal connections being laid down in the brain.

      • Thanks a lot Steve! That makes a lot of sense. It’s all about balance.

        So, the push away intention turns on IAP, and the phasic (extension) system.

        Does the push away intention from the TLJ in baby back also do this?

        Is there ever a need to strengthen/wake up the tonic system?

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