The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center is highlighting the importance of abdominal core health, an area that plays a significant role in daily activities and overall well-being. The medical center’s Center for Abdominal Core Health is dedicated to helping individuals strengthen their core muscles to prevent injury, improve posture, reduce lower back pain, and enhance breathing.
The abdominal core consists of muscles and supporting structures located at the front, sides, and back of the body, along with the diaphragm above and pelvic muscles below. These components work together to support movement and function. According to experts at Ohio State Wexner Medical Center, weakness in this area can impact everyday tasks such as walking or lifting children.
“We are now understanding that the components of the abdominal core are related and work together. This sounds pretty simple and natural, but the way our health care system is set up forces you to see different specialists in each area. This can lead to fragmented and delayed care. Core strength, function and balance are critical for all of us to maintain, especially as we age. An article in JAMA Surgery outlines this idea,” a spokesperson from the medical center said.
The concept of abdominal core health focuses on maintaining wellness rather than solely treating diseases or conditions. It also encourages collaboration among various specialists who address different aspects of core health.
“Two things are really unique about the abdominal core health concept: First, it focuses on maintaining your health instead of dwelling on diseases and interventions.
Second, it breaks down the barriers we’ve artificially created in medicine, in which one group of experts may focus on the front part of the core, and a different group focuses on another part.
We’re finally understanding that all these areas are related, and you need a team of experts working together to improve your abdominal core health.”
Common issues affecting the abdominal core include hernias, pain, tumors, diaphragm problems impacting breathing or swallowing, and pelvic floor disorders that may cause organ prolapse or functional difficulties.
For those looking to strengthen their cores or address existing issues such as hernias or muscle separation after pregnancy (diastasis), evaluation by professionals is recommended. The center offers personal training programs, nutritional guidance, physical therapy services for maintenance purposes as well as minimally invasive surgery or reconstructive procedures when necessary. Integrative therapies like therapeutic yoga and acupuncture are also available through partnerships within Ohio State’s Integrative Health program.
The Sports Medicine team at Ohio State recommends three exercises for improving abdominal strength:
1. Plank: Begin with a modified plank by lying on your stomach with knees bent off the ground; forearms should be under shoulders without hands clasped together. Brace your abdomen while keeping your back flat.
2. Side plank: Start on one side with knees bent behind you; raise onto one forearm directly beneath your shoulder while lifting hips off ground.
3. Bridges: Lie on your back with knees bent; tighten gluteal muscles before raising hips off ground using those muscles while keeping back straight.
Individuals experiencing symptoms such as chronic pain from previous surgeries or structural concerns like hernias should seek specialized care offered by teams encompassing surgery specialties (general/gastrointestinal/plastic/colorectal/trauma), critical care providers as well as physical therapists and integrative health practitioners at Ohio State Wexner Medical Center.
