I was wondering about the term, "engage your core" the other day. How do I know (when swimming, let's say front crawl) when I've done it correctly (or at all)? Is it sufficient to "suck my navel to my spine"?
How do I know (when swimming, let's say front crawl) when I've done it correctly (or at all)?
I found a good method a week or so ago. I did some ab work after not having done any for a long time. The next day in the pool I could tell I was engaging my core. Ouch!
I was wondering about the term, "engage your core" the other day. How do I know (when swimming, let's say front crawl) when I've done it correctly (or at all)? Is it sufficient to "suck my navel to my spine"?
Check out some of the posts on the following threads for good discussions of the "How do I know?" question:
- Pulling your navel to your spine
- Kicking rhythm?
- Developing power and endurance - with the right stroke
(All of these threads are fairly recent - within the past couple weeks)
I was wondering about the term, "engage your core" the other day. How do I know (when swimming, let's say front crawl) when I've done it correctly (or at all)?
I have to admit that I too mostly feel lost in discussions about engaging core when swimming.
The article was interesting and I'm mostly persuaded by it, my back gives me the least amount of trouble when I ignore "core exercises" and the like.
I have to admit that I too mostly feel lost in discussions about engaging core when swimming.
The article was interesting and I'm mostly persuaded by it, my back gives me the least amount of trouble when I ignore "core exercises" and the like.
"Engage your core" is fairly meaningless to me as well. I do weighted exercises to strengthen the "trunk." But I don't bother much with crunches or wobbly balls, and I think I have a fairly strong core. I recall going to a "Pilates mat" class once. It was so easy that I laughed and left -- that is a good example of the concept of "core training" run amok.
I have to admit that I too mostly feel lost in discussions about engaging core when swimming.
"Engage your core" is fairly meaningless to me as well. This is really encouraging! I feel considerably less stupid now because this phrase is totally lost on me.
Engaging the core does nothing for my forward propulsion, directly or indirectly. I just think of mental pictures and then it's probably engaging my core, or working it all together as a well-oiled unit.
Big no-no's: Mental image: slinky dog, the "X" factor, ie, swimming like a sloppy X shape, noodle limbs
YES: Big 8 person rowing thing (boat, scull, whatever it's called), Aragon's big fancy elf sword, my kid's really realistic sword, a line segment through my body. It's the equivalent of like sitting upright in your chair when in Health class and the gym-turned-health teacher is discussing posture. You think you are the sword, and then immediately I feel much more streamlined, precise and at least eliminating passive drag. I don't even know if i'm using these words right. Sort of like engaging my mental images, heh heh!
Interesting article - and a bit confusing to me as someone who is in the process of discovering how his lack of core strength/engagement is hampering his swimming. Trying to make sense of the seeming contradictory messages I'm hearing - "you need to swim with an engaged core" versus what this article says: "Instructors who tell people to 'engage their core' before they perform an exercise are asking for trouble.There was this theory that by 'engaging' or drawing in the core you would target the deeply embedded transversus abdominus muscle, a thin band that holds the guts in. We now know that the practice leads to people squeezing their abdominal muscles, leaving the back unstable. It’s completely wrong and the reason so many people get hurt when they exercise."
To me, the key sentence in that article might be: "Many experts believe that the principles of core fitness have been taken out of context by an industry intent on making millions." How many times have we as a culture gone through this cycle in fitness, diet, and other areas of life: 1) a basically reasonable, good idea comes to prominence 2) it gets turned into a fad by people who want to make huge money selling books, products, seminars, etc. 3) the basically good idea gets taken to silly lengths 4) the whole idea gets "debunked" 5) we move on to the next fad
As the article says, the core is essential to moving your body. So it seems like it would have to be "engaged," no? But just not in the way this article says, which leaves the back unstable. The question then is, what is the correct way to engage (and train) the core?
I'll also hazard a guess that the majority of "elite" swimmers already have strong core muscles and do not need further strengthening with supplemental exercises (pilaties, yoga, etc) because they are exercising those muscles while they are swimming.
That's kind of been my take on it too.
I misinterpreted this and became engaged to my core, endlessly showering it with love by filling it with beer and pizza. Now I have to start all over!
:D
