{"id":784,"date":"2012-02-11T03:42:00","date_gmt":"2012-02-11T03:42:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/firerescuefitness.com\/the-best-core-exercise-for-firefighters-emts-and-paramedics\/"},"modified":"2012-02-11T03:42:00","modified_gmt":"2012-02-11T03:42:00","slug":"the-best-core-exercise-for-firefighters-emts-and-paramedics","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/firerescuefitness.com\/2012\/02\/the-best-core-exercise-for-firefighters-emts-and-paramedics\/","title":{"rendered":"The Best Core Exercise for Firefighters, EMTs and Paramedics…"},"content":{"rendered":"

As a trainer (and as a firefighter in the workout room), I hear people saying, I want \u201cabs\u201d and of course, I want to help people achieve this. However, I frequently see people performing the least productive exercise for their abs- the crunch. \u00a0Yes, the movement performed while lying down on a mat with the head and neck supported. This movement, will not get you results. \u00a0If you want to see “the abs” you feel during this exercise, change your diet! Which I will post about soon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
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The plank, for a modiefied (easier) version start on your knees<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n
Here is why the crunch is not the best exercise for your abs or core. \u00a0The crunch exercise will shorten and strengthen your rectus abdominus (six pack muscles) and obliques (especially if you twist) from a position that is useless (non-functional) for the majority of daily and fireground related tasks. \u00a0also, any exercise doesn\u2019t totally isolate one muscle and has consequences for other muscles. The crunch exercise leaves you with weak neck muscles and shortened muscles of inspiration (breathing). You\u2019re thinking, so what? I\u2019m thinking poor posture that doesn\u2019t look good, especially as one ages, greater tendencies for muscle tension headaches and whiplash due to an imbalance of torso strength to neck strength, and poor breathing.<\/div>\n
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So now you\u2019re thinking but I read about doing crunch exercises in my favorite health or fitness magazine and it said it would strengthen my abs. It does, but it doesn\u2019t teach them to perform. If you eat right, you will have a \u201cdumb\u201d beautiful muscle. But, your body knows nothing of muscles, only movements. This too is another topic. We all have a nervous system that communicates with our muscular system.<\/div>\n
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Our \u201cabs\u201d, or our torso (containing many muscles and nerve connections from the spinal cord) performs many functions. It flexes forward and back, to the side, as well as rotates or twists (especially on the fire ground and rescue scene), and primarily stabilizes the spine to provide an anchor for our limbs to produce force and hold us up against the forces of gravity. It does one or more of these functions simultaneously with the input from our nervous system. These ideas relate to the body knowing movements rather than muscles. Rarely, in daily activities or sport do the abs repeatedly flex a couple of inches off a flat surface. Therefore, it makes a lot of sense to teach the \u201cabs\u201d to stabilize rather than flex from the floor!<\/div>\n
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The \u201cabs\u201d, torso, or the \u201ccore\u201d is a complex area to train. Yet, there are many exercises that can effectively train this area in a safe and functional manner. One of these exercises is the prone plank.\u00a0 This exercise (or a version of it) should be a staple in every firefighters, EMTs and Paramedics workout program. See how long you can hold the “correct” position–start with 30 seconds and work your way longer.<\/div>\n
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To perform the prone plank rest on your forearms or hold yourself up in a push-up position with your toes pulled up towards your shins and hold for as long as you can while maintaining the natural curves of your spine. The trick is not to allow your hips to either sag,\u00a0shift, or twist to any side. Also, keep your neck in alignment. A common error during this exercise is letting the head drop towards the floor. This exercise teaches the abs to stabilize by performing an isometric (without movement) contraction that will enhance the posture, provide a lean elongated looking torso, and a foundation of strength for all sporting or daily movements.<\/p>\n

Other forms of the Plank:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
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Performing the plank on a stability ball\u00a0 makes the core and shoulders work harder<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n\n
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To add more challenge to the core you can\u00a0 add “pulses” by lifting the hips. This exercise can be performed in reps instead of a static hold.\u00a0 Give it a try<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n
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