Core Strength - The Cure for A Concussion-Free Winter

​When ever I hear stories from my clients about how our personal training services benefit their lives, it's music to my ears, and the story that was shared with me recently is no exception.

I was talking with this client just a couple weeks ago about about the goals they had when they started their training program with Wilcox Brunswick a couple of years ago.  We reflected upon a slip and fall on the ice that had resulted in a concussion, and how this was a major driver for them starting their training program with us.  Improvements in balance and stability were goals that were noted at that time, along with living an active life into retirement. 

​Many of the core strength and thoracic mobility exercises I incorporate into sessions are inspired by thoughts of slipping on the ice, especially as we approach the end of an icy winter, and are designed  to  keep my population of clients moving freely and gracefully well into their elder years.

Last weekend this same person took another slip on the ice, but this time they were able to position their body in mid air so that they landed on their side and with their head fully protected from impact.  This time, the fall resulted in just a minor bruise and no serious injury!  What an incredible reward for the hard work and commitment that this person has put into their training program.  That's what it's all about!

Unfortunately, as we get older we tend to lose the mobility in our thoracic spine, the part of our spine that attaches to our ribs and is involved in rotational movements.  When we slip on the ice the natural instinct is to twist the body in an effort to maintain our balance and not fall.  When we lack the mobility that allows our thoracic spine to rotate efficiently, our lumbar spine (lower back) will compensate... and guess what?  We find ourselves on the couch with a thrown out back.  No fun!  ​

Furthermore, due to the sedentary lifestyles that too many Americans fall into these days, core muscles in general are weaker for lots of people. In some cases, core muscles can be so weak and atrophied that they almost resemble the core strength of a newborn baby, losing the ability to instinctively react in the event of an unexpected slip.  When this happens, our muscles are not strong enough to cause us to curl up into a protective shell, preventing our heads from hitting the ground.  This is what happened to my client when the first fall occurred two years ago, which resulted in a concussion. The second time however, they had the thoracic mobility to rotate their body as they fell, allowing them to land on their side instead of their back AND they also curled up, protecting the head from hitting the ground.  

They said that they weren't sure if the strength that they had built up in the gym helped avoid another concussion and injury, or if it was my voice in their head talking about curling up and bracing through the core to protect the head from hitting the floor.  I suspect it was more of the former :-)

Working on that thoracic mobility and core strength may not feel all that glamorous or exciting, but take this client's word for it!  There is a method to the madness. Keeping that core strong and that thoracic spine mobile will help to protect you from serious injury, and allow you to keep on trucking in all of the activities that you love to do inside and outside of the gym. If you are looking for a challenge and a way to strengthen your core all in one, we have a fantastic Stronger to the Core Challenge guidebook you can download below that provides some great exercises and movements centered around strengthening this central area of our body. 

stronger to the core challenge

Committing to a training program isn't just about getting 6-pack abs. It's also not about getting buried by intense conditioning movements that make you crawl to your car afterwards.  It's about consistency and hard work.  It's about incremental improvement over time.  You add these things together and they can lead to remarkable results that allow you to live your life to it's absolute fullest, free of limitations or undeserved fear of injury 

We would love to support you in reaching your health & fitness goals. Click "Let's Chat" below to schedule at a time that fits your schedule.  During this call we will discuss your personal goals, share more about how we support our clients, and answer all of your questions.

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