Core Muscles

What are the core body muscles? Why are they getting so much attention, recently? Here's my utterly personal theory, advanced utterly without evidence ... In swimming we employ two systems of two levers. The primary system is the arms: the shoulders are the fulcrums, the arms are the lever arms, and force is applied through the hands and forearms. The left arm and right arm comprise the two levers of this system. They are coupled by a rigid structure, the pectoral girdle (clavicle and scapula). The secondary system is the legs: the hips are the fulcrums, the legs are the lever arms, and force is applied at the feet. The left and right legs are coupled by the rigid pelvis. But what couples the two systems of levers? What connects the force applied by the right hand to the force applied by the left foot? The core does. That's what it's for. The core couples the pectoral girdle to the pelvis, and allows the two systems of levers to work together. The stronger the core, the more effectively your arm stroke can work in coordination with your kick. That's why it gets so much attention.

What are the core body muscles? Why are they getting so much attention, recently? Here's my utterly personal theory, advanced utterly without evidence ... In swimming we employ two systems of two levers. The primary system is the arms: the shoulders are the fulcrums, the arms are the lever arms, and force is applied through the hands and forearms. The left arm and right arm comprise the two levers of this system. They are coupled by a rigid structure, the pectoral girdle (clavicle and scapula). The secondary system is the legs: the hips are the fulcrums, the legs are the lever arms, and force is applied at the feet. The left and right legs are coupled by the rigid pelvis. But what couples the two systems of levers? What connects the force applied by the right hand to the force applied by the left foot? The core does. That's what it's for. The core couples the pectoral girdle to the pelvis, and allows the two systems of levers to work together. The stronger the core, the more effectively your arm stroke can work in coordination with your kick. That's why it gets so much attention.