Your core muscles have a lot to do with posture. Having a hunched back is generally associated with old age, though people of any age can have kyphosis (abnormal curvature of the spine) and some cases are due to defects in the spine. In this article I want to deal with slouching that is caused by neglect.Aging doesn't have to cause this contortion in the back.The reason is that many people, throughout their lives, never extend their neck to its full range, and so the muscles shorten. Long hours of reading, sewing, typing, or standing at a workbench take their toll. Eventually deposits of calcium salts in the joints complete the process of immobilization. Once this calcification takes place, nothing can be done to reverse it.
Fortunately, people can take action before it is too late. The best action is regular exercise that stretches and improves the flexibilty of the core muscles.
Core muscles are those found between the top of the legs and the chest line and consist of the obliques, abdominals, lower back, and the glutes. These four areas of the body are the ones that usually frame the posture of a person. Hence, a good posture reflects the good condition of these muscle areas.
A strong core also makes everything you do easier.
What people don't realize is that your core muscles are actually the center of your bodies strength. Having a strong core will make you more physically powerful, it will maintain equilibrium and stability for exercising and all other physical activity.
Health and fitness experts have realized, for the above reasons, that it is important to strengthen the core. Through some series of experiments and research, it has been learned that having a stronger core can lessen a lot of health problems concerning posture.
For instance, a well-conditioned core can will result in better posture as it supports the upper torso.
Here is a list of some of the benefits of a strong core:
1. Strengthening core muscles will improve posture and prevent low muscular back pain.
This means that as you incorporate abdominal and back exercises into your exercise routine, and do stretching to improve flexibility, you will gain more strength and a more upright posture.
2. Helps avoid back injury.
Exercising your core will strengthen and tone your lower back muscles and buttocks while stretching the hip flexors and the muscles on the front of the thighs.
Injury to the lower back is most often caused by weakness in the musculature, so strengthening those muscles decreases the chance of injury.
3. Improves physical performance
Exercising the core muscles with slow, static stretching is effective in relieving stiffness and enhances flexibility. Practically all physical activity involves using these muscles and so it follows that a strong core will make everything you do easier.
4. Improves balance
Core muscle exercises and stretching as part of an exercise program will help greatly in maintaining balance and physical independence in your senior years.l
15 to 20 minutes of core exercises, 3 time per week is all it takes.
See my exercise index for good exercises for core muscles
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