Kauai Physical Therapy Blog

3 Great Core Exercises

At the basis of all good fitness, all strength training, all injury prevention, and all sports performance enhancement is core strengthening. At Action PT we strongly encourage the strengthening of your core as the single most effective way to improve your daily recreational and athletic performance.

Here are 3 great exercises that maximize the core strength and get you going down the road to peak performance.

1. Twisting Crunch

Everyone knows what a crunch is. Heck, there is even a chain of fitness clubs named after this clichéd exercise. But the twisting crunch has replaced the normal crunch as one of the best core exercises. The twisting version targets every abdominal muscle at the same time.

1:: Start with your typical crunch position, fingers behind ears
2:: Lift up you upper body to a 45 degree angle, and then twist from left, to right, to left again.
3:: Do this quickly for the best results.

2. Plank

Sit ups are so last decade. So what’s the the number one core exercises to build up your upper and lower body muscles? The Plank. When done correctly, this simple static manouver will bring on that 6-pack in a hurry.

1:: Lie down flat on your stomach.
2:: Slowly push your body up with your forearms while maintaining your elbows at a 90 degree angle
3:: Keep your body straight for a minute for each rep.
Not gnarly enough? Lift one foot off the ground or add in a stability ball.

3. V Sit Hold

The V sit is very intense. It is a mental game that is easily lost. But this one is about maintaining proper form for as long as posible. It really hones in on your abs and helps you build up your core stability.

1:: Lie completely flat on your back
2:: Lift your arms and legs off the ground to create a “V” shape.
3:: Hold. Maintain this position for as long as you are physically able to.

We hope we have encouraged you to try these 3 basic core exercises. We know you will benefit from them. If you need more help, or want to go further (or recover) call us to discuss your health and wellness needs. 808-246-0144