“Stabilization: the core and beyond”

From the work of Aline Newton, Certified Advanced Rolfer – www.alinenewton.com

“Spinal stabilization involves a co-contraction of lumbar multifidus and transversus abdominis. Core health means an effectively stabilized low-back.

Over many centuries and many cultures the movement that brings the navel toward the spine has been recognized as essential to good health. It surfaces from the practice of yoga to the Chinese tradition of martial arts, Tai Chi and so on.

The actual function of stability is about staying in balance, or “an appropriate relationship with gravity“, like Ida Rolf used to say. Our orientation in gravity shapes our impressions of things, of the world, of our own bodies.. it is literally the basis of our habitual attitude.

The material of life that our culture often relegates to psychology, implying a mental or biochemical event is rooted in this physical experience: how we are standing here!

Really good stabilization requires that we go beyond a simplistic notion of core to understand through movement science and experience, how we are engaging in being here.”

Note: from Joseph E. Muscolino – the Muscular System Manual

– Multifidus (of transversospinalis group): the attachments for this group are from a transverse process inferiorly to a spinous process superiorly, starting from the sacrum and posterior sacroiliac ligament. It is bulkiest in the lumbosacral region and is the largest muscle in the low back.

– Transversus Abdominis: spanning from the thoraco-lumbar fascia to the abdominal aponeurosis it is sometimes called the corset muscle because it wraps around the abdomen like a corset, with its fibers running horizontally.