Knowing your Core Muscles

The “Core” refers to those deep trunk muscles, which stabilise the lumbar [lower] spine. They include:

• Transversus Abdominis (TA)
• Multifidus (MF)
• Internal Oblique (IO)
• Paraspinal
• Pelvic Floor

The co-contraction of these muscles produce forces which stabilise the lumbar spine, and act directly to resist forces acting on the lumbar spine.
These deep-trunk stabiliser muscles are not involved in producing movements, but instead involve static, or isometric contractions. They are employed continuously throughout everyday activities as well as fitness and sport activities, and so require very good endurance of low-level forces. They do not need to be very strong, but they must be correctly co-ordinated and capable of working continuously.