The CORE
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By Craig Huntington
At Back2Health: Spinal Fitness our slogan is "The Real Core Workout" I used to cringe every time someone mentioned the word core. "I really need to work on my core"..."Can we do core exercises?"... "Isn't a strong core the most important thing in fitness?" Blah, Blah, Blah, etc, etc.
The concept of a strong core is really nothing more than a fitness marketing catch phrase. It's so vague and poorly defined. Core programs sold on TV and in books are nothing more than dressed up old abdominal routines with a catchy new name. (See our blog for a critique of a particularly amusing television advertisement.)
When we made the decision to open Back2Health: Spinal Fitness and invested in the MedX Core line I decided to lighten up a bit. If the word Core was good enough for MedX then it was good enough for us. If you can't beat 'em, join 'em. We'll do what ever it takes to get people through the door and using these amazing machines, and then they'll experience what a real core workout is all about.
At Back 2 Health, we have clearly defined both what the core is, and what a real core workout entails. The core is made up of the muscle groups that directly support the spinal column. By far the most valuable MedX Core piece we use is the one that strengthens the lower back. If you have never used the MedX Core Lumbar Extension, then you have never been able to specifically target and strengthen the low back muscles.
Exercises that have traditionally been done to strengthen the lower back do not work. They all target the gluteus with the lower back muscles only playing the role of stabilizer during the movement.
Whether acute or chronic, if you have lower back pain, the MedX Core Lumbar Extension machine should be the first place you go to for relief. If you don't have back pain and want to defend against it, then consistent use of this MedX piece (as little as 1-2 times a month) is by far your best option.
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