A common myth with core training says that if I train my core for more strength then I will be able to lift heavier and have less of a risk for injury, when in reality it’s actually the opposite. The key to lifting safe and being injury free is the ability to create stiffness in the core and maintain that stiffness throughout the activity. Any break in core stability during a lift and you can expect a direct energy loss, which will result in missed reps or injury. In order to harness this energy the core needs to have the endurance to remain stiff and rigid. It only takes one split second where you lose stiffness during a rep and relax your core to throw your back out or have a similar injury.
When it comes to training your core for ultimate performance, stability and low back pain prevention, you must think endurance. Studies show that time training for core ENDURANCE yielded better protection for the spine and overall lasting performance more than traditional core strength training protocol (Luoto, S., et al 1995). If you think about it, it makes complete sense. Everything we do in life isn’t limited to reps and sets. The average fit individual sees about 4+ hours a week of gym time. What about the rest of the time? We stoop, we twist, we bend and we reach multiple times a day. Then you get into the gym trying to hit personal records in squats and dead lifts and you struggle.
It’s not just about the abs though. Often times we think, “getting tight” before a lift means flexing the stomach as if you are about to get punched. This is true but the core is so much more than that. It involves the entire circumference of your midsection including your lower back. This is where a lot of lifters go wrong. They hit the anterior portion of their core and typically neglect everything else they don’t see in the mirror. In fact, a study done by Dr. McGill shows that the individuals with any kind of back pain appear to have a different flexion- to -extension endurance ratio, with the extensors having less endurance and the flexors having more endurance (McGill et al., 2003). This extensor neglect directly affects your core’s performance and simply thinking heavier dead lifts are the solution is wrong!
How to Build Endurance
“Typically endurance is built first with repeated sets of relatively short holds” (McGill et al., 2003). Short relaxation of the muscle restores oxygen. Building endurance is achieved by building up repetitions rather than increasing the time of each hold. When training for endurance, holds shouldn’t last more than 6-8 seconds (McGill, Stuart. Low Back Disorders: Human Kinetics, 2007. pg 182). Russian performance athletes have used this technique for years. It’s crazy to think about though, right? We are taught in order to build endurance you need to run longer, add more reps or hold it longer. In some cases, this may be true but to build un-wavering core endurance it isn’t about gritting it out and holding on by the skin of your teeth just to finish. It’s a complete and controlled contraction that is like a vice grip from beginning to end.
To build this vice takes time. The key is not to be strong in the core just for lifts but to be strong in the core for life. For walking up the stairs, carrying boxes, lifting your child etc. We are so intentional about form and technique in the gym but we lose all sense of that once we step out side and into the real world. This is why a stiff core that is open for business 24/7 has to be built one brick at a time