Core stability exercises improve torso strength as a whole. These exercises target many muscles in the torso including abdominal muscles, internal/external obliques, and muscles that run along the spine. Why do these muscles need to be improved?

Torso or core muscles help provide support for your bones during your everyday activities. Improving these muscles will increase your general physical fitness and decrease your likelihood of back and neck pains or injuries from physical activities.

One important thing to remember when performing core stability exercises is to make sure you activate all of your torso muscle groups evenly. The following is a list of five top exercises that will help you activate all of your torso muscles evenly.

1. Straight Crunch. This classic exercise move strengthens the “6-pack abs” part of the upper body.

2. Crossover Crunch. The crossover crunch helps strengthen the side and front abdomen by adding twist in the typical straight crunch.

3. Back Extension. This exercise works out the muscles that run along your spine and are done by lying on your stomach and contracting your back muscles.

4. Arm Sweep. Sitting down in a slightly leaned-back position, the outstretched arms are moved in a helicopter like circle, twisting your upper body back and forth around your hips. This targets the external obliques.

5. Plank or Push-Up. Plank or push-up exercises help develop the transverse abdominis that lay deep within your abdomen and wrap all around your spine. Because of its placement, these muscles directly support and stabilize the spine to help avoid back pains.

Balancing these exercises will allow you to focus on each muscle group in each exercise while currently building the whole core stability package. When you first start core stability training, it might be best to hire a personal trainer to get optimal results. A personal trainer can also help you work more advanced core stability exercises to develop and keep solid core strength.

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