Core Training Effective for Reducing Back Pain

The core muscles in the torso provide a stable midsection vital to all motions and postures. The core muscles stabilize the spine and help to transfer force between the lower and upper body. They stabilize the midsection when you sit, stand, reach, walk, jump, twist, squat, throw or bend. A meta-analysis by researchers from Taiwan showed that strengthening core muscles, particularly deep muscles such as the quadratus lumborum, make movements more forceful and preserve a healthy spine to help prevent back pain. They tone muscles without damaging the fragile spinal disks and will give you a lean, toned midsection and functionally strong core muscles that work together flawlessly to maintain a pain-free spine that hopefully will last a lifetime. (Journal Physical Therapy Science 27: 619-622, 2015)