Learning how to engage your core muscles is the first step to making them stronger.

Having a strong core is essential for performing most daily tasks.

The abdominals are just some of the muscles that make up your core.

Woman doing the bird dog exercise to engage her core muscles

Chadchai Krisadapong / Getty Images

However, having strong core muscles does not just improve your posture.

you might do manycore-strengthening exercisesusing your own body weight as resistance.Throughout these exercises, maintain a pelvic neutral position.

Once this becomes easy, you could add seated marches to further challenge your core muscles.

These healthcare professionals can assess your strength and give you an individualized exercise program.

Summary

Your core comprises several groups of muscles in your abdomen, lower back, and pelvis.

These muscles can be weakespecially if you sit for long periods or have poor posture.

you’re able to strengthen these muscles with exercises that use your body weight as resistance.

Weak core muscles can lead to back pain and issues in the arms or legs.

Hospital for Special Surgery.A guide to your core muscles, from a PT.

American Council on Exercise.Core training: Don’t forget the diaphragm.

Harvard Health Publishing.Understanding and improving core strength.

2019;15(3):214-220. doi:10.1007/s11420-019-09717-8

University of California, San Francisco.Core strength and stability program.

Harvard Health Publishing.Simple core strengtheners for every day of the week.