Why should you care about muscles you cannot even see? The answer is, among other reasons, to flatten abs, eliminate back pain - particularly lower back pain - and achieve core fitness.
By now you are probably familiar with “core training” or you have at least heard the term used on TV or in various fitness publications. Your “core” refers not just to the abdominals, but your entire trunk musculature, including those deep muscles you can’t even see (like the Transversus Abdominis, or TVA).

Back pain is one of the biggest complaints of men of ALL ages, and many women suffer from it as well, especially during and after pregnancy. You see a weak core, combined with other

problems such as tightness in certain muscle groups, lousy form and poor selection of exercises is one of the leading causes of lower back pain. The good news is that it’s largely preventable with a few easy exercises.

There is more. Your core is also the seat of power for your entire body. If you are an athlete - recreational or competitive - core strength means better performance on the playing field. If you’re a non-athlete, greater core strength means more efficient and safer performance of regular day to day activities. If you know anyone who blew out their back lifting boxes or simply doing work around the house you know what I’m talking about.

About 15 years ago, I

was diagnosed with a herniated disk, and at one point a neurosurgeon told me I should be on the lookout for “foot flop”. This is when the nerves in the leg go numb to the point where the foot literally drags on the ground and, he explained, that surgery was imminent and unavoidable. I was fairly freaked out. An alternative therapy was an epidural injection of steroids which, after just one treatment, did provide relief.

I knew that a lifestyle change was in order and fortunately, I was able to rehab my own back without ever going under the knife, thanks to a ton of flexibility work and some intelligent abdominal training. Once you rupture a disk you can rehab

to a remarkable degree, but it’s something you always have to be cautious about.

Anyway, in the last few years since I started to use core training methods, and not just the traditional “bodybuilding-style” routines, I have seen a greater improvement in my lower low back than ever before. If you haven’t started doing any ball work or core training yourself, I would definitely urge you to look into it.

The reason I’m mentioning core training today is because David Grisaffi recently released a copy of his new e-book, “Firm And Flatten Your Abs”. I have to admit, David put together a very unique program. This is the first time in a long time that I’ve seen an abdominal

course that’s not centered on the usual sit ups and crunches.

In fact, there’s not a single sit up in the entire course.

David included quite a bit of nutrition info in his book too, but in my opinion, the real strong point is the core training info and the 7 routines, which progress from beginner up to “athlete” level. Some of the exercises are a lot more challenging than they look in the pictures. You have to try them to appreciate them. Many of them can be done with just your body weight. Others require a stability ball (swiss ball), and a handful can be done with a cable apparatus you’d find in any gym.

R. Adam Shore is

an active fitness enthusiast, freelance reviewer and writer. To learn more visit [http://www.physicalfitnessarticles.net/aboutus.php/ ] Physical Fitness Articles. Be sure to read over 4000 articles from more than 1500 authors at http://www.physicalfitnessarticles.net/aboutus.php/