<h1><b>Remember the weak glutes debate?</b></h1>
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<span style="font-weight: 400;">Well once again let’s consider if this is really the right question? </span>

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<h2><b>Weak - definition </b></h2>
<i><span style="font-weight: 400;">Lacking the power to perform physically demanding tasks.</span></i>

<i><span style="font-weight: 400;">Having little physical strength or energy </span></i>

<i><span style="font-weight: 400;">Liable to break or give way under pressure; easily damaged</span></i>

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<span style="font-weight: 400;">Let me offer some of my thoughts &amp; I'd love to hear yours.....</span>

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<span style="font-weight: 400;">Using the term ‘weak core’ is often interpreted as meaning it simply requires strengthening.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">However let’s challenge this for a moment shall we…?</span>

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<h2><b>What could be the right question?</b></h2>
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<span style="font-weight: 400;">How would one come to the conclusion that a client has a weak core?</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">What test identifies it?</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">If a client can walk into the gym, move around &amp; perform daily tasks does that indicate a weak core?</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">If it’s being determined by pain then I would also challenge this to be ambiguous as a ‘diagnosis’ for a ‘weak’ core.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Pain may indicate a ‘weakness’ or rather a dysfunction or problem </span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">BUT </span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Should we be strengthening a dysfunction?</span>

&nbsp;

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Rather than focusing on ‘what’....lets shift the focus onto the ‘WHY?’</span>

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<h2><b>Why not what?</b></h2>
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<span style="font-weight: 400;">Why do we think it's weak?</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">How strong is that reasoning?</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Can your reasoning be evidenced?</span>

&nbsp;

<span style="font-weight: 400;">To be clear I’m not suggesting strength work isn’t required at all however what might be prudent is to identify potential causes for the apparent weakness first. Consider all intervention options and then possibly the timing of when we apply strength training. </span>

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<h2><b>If not weak then what?</b></h2>
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<span style="font-weight: 400;">Examples of intrinsic dysfunctions that could give the appearance of a weak core;</span>

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<ul>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">QL Hinge/s or quadratus lumborum ‘sub clinical’ (not clinical) spasm - can be addressed with the wall glide technique</span></li>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Glute dysfunction - ‘sub clinical’ (not clinical) spasm - can be addressed with an MET (Muscle energy technique)</span></li>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Hip flexor dysfunction - ‘sub clinical’ (not clinical) spasm - can be addressed with an MET (Muscle energy technique)</span></li>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Stiff lumbar spine - Can be addressed with lumbar tilts and/or kee rolls</span></li>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Stiff thoracic spine - Can be addressed with Thoracic rotation drills  </span></li>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">The core strength ratios are poor (due to any of the above and/or lifestyle) - measure the ratios &amp; prescribe appropriate loading to the area where the ratio is off. </span></li>
</ul>
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<span style="font-weight: 400;">Also considering this last point on the list above its vital we understand that all ‘core stability’ strength work will emphasise one area of the trunk over the others. For example supine leg extension will strengthen the flexors or anterior trunk predominantly. So do planks and mountain climbers. So we must consider how many core stability exercises we teach and how many strengthen which part of the trunk. Are we hitting a balance? Or are we overloading the flexors or maybe the extensors get overloaded more? How would we know?</span>

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<span style="font-weight: 400;">Improving the intrinsic function of each substructure first with an understanding how the myofascial, skeletal &amp; neural systems are integrated &amp; influence each other is a vital component in understanding how the body works. </span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">There is a small gap in our education that really highlights &amp; proves this which is the ability to test, monitor &amp; re test our clients intrinsic function</span>

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<span style="font-weight: 400;">With this ability we as exercise professionals can better serve our client when designing a movement programme </span>

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<span style="font-weight: 400;">Without it.....well we are simply guessing </span>

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<span style="font-weight: 400;">Forcing techniques or repeating patterns does NOT address the root cause unless by chance or maybe temporarily </span>

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<span style="font-weight: 400;">So I urge you to challenge everything! </span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Do not accept a term like weak core or weak glutes as simply needing strength work </span>

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<span style="font-weight: 400;">First understand the underlying causes/reasons behind this ‘diagnosis’ </span>

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