How Well Do You Know Your Core

By Greg Besson, MSPT at Moore


Moore clients are educated about the importance of having a strong core ALL THE TIME! If you’re here in our clinic as a PT or Fitness client, we can teach you. But what if you’re not? What does it REALLY mean to have a strong core? Here is Greg Besson, MSPT, a Physical Therapist and Partner at Moore as he explains the core:


Q: What makes up the core?

A: The core consists of the whole trunk from the shoulders to the hips and glutes. It is considered the foundation, the “pillar” of all movement. Your arms and legs need a strong foundation from which to move. A strong core is not only important to keep your back healthy but also plays a vital role in helping to control all movement of the limbs. Improving leg and arm strength needs to start with core training in order to reach your strength potential and improve coordination.

The “inner core” muscles are generally smaller and deeper muscles. Some of these muscles attach the different vertebrae of your back and others are pelvic floor muscles. These muscles play an important role in stabilizing your pelvis, hip and spine so that the “outer core” and hip muscles can do more dynamic actions of body movement. Activating and strengthening these inner core muscles helps to improve your posture and spinal stability. When they activate with appropriate timing they are the first muscles to work when stabilizing the spine and pelvis. When these muscles are not acting effectively, back injuries and poor performance occur.

Q: How does the core work?

A: The core frequently works in diagonal patterns. Our bodies usually work reciprocally. Your right arm swings forward when your left leg steps forward. Our core muscles work to aid in the stability of motions just like this. When you are walking, as your left foot contacts the ground, your inner core and outer core musculature work to stabilize your spine. Your left hip musculature works to stabilize your left hip, followed by the muscles of your trunk including your lats and rhomboids working to stabilize your right shoulder. Having the proper understanding of how your body works and moves is extremely important in understanding how you should train.

Because of the nature of how we function (with our feet on the ground) hip strength and mobility plays an integral part in the agility, balance, coordination, power and overall performance that we get out of our legs. We frequently refer to the hip as the power house of our body. The abductors on the outside of your hips are important in stabilizing your hip in the side to side plane. When standing on one leg, if the abductors aren’t working correctly you would fall over. These hip muscles are important in keeping the proper balance and counter forces that occur in function.

When one of these systems is not working to the best of its ability compensations begin. This is when traumatic injuries and repetitive stress injuries often occur. For instance, if your glutes aren’t working at the right time or with enough strength during certain activities you may be placing too much stress on the front of your knee. Knee problems can arise, such as patella femoral syndrome/chondromalacia, patella tendonitis, or more traumatic injuries.


Q: How do I strengthen my core?

A: Dynamic core strengthening is extremely important in improving functional performance and preventing injuries. Dynamic activities are those activities that require movement usually in at least two planes of motion and most of the time in three plans of motion, such as, a tennis stroke, golf swing, even putting dishes in the cabinet. Strengthening these muscles dynamically prepares them for the tasks that they will have to do in everyday life. Dynamic core strengthening is more advanced than just doing crunches, but necessary because it prepares the body for movement safely and effectively. Strengthening your core the right way is where you should begin.

Q: What’s the “right way”?

A: Find a safe class run by a professional who truly knows the core. Moore has a new, custom designed, Core Class! Call us today at 203-762-2903!


Greg Besson, MSPT is a Physical therapist, and partner at Moore. He graduated with his Masters in Physical Therapy from Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, CT. He is Etcheberry Tennis Certified.