Core Chiropractic Brighton, 2 Circus Parade, New England Road, Brighton, BN1 4GW
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Tag Archives: core strength

Core Strengthening routine

Elevate Your Stability: The Ultimate Core Strengthening Routine at Brighton Physiotherapy

When most people think of “the core,” they envision six-pack abs. However, as any Brighton Physiotherapist will tell you, your core is actually a complex 360-degree cylinder of muscle that stabilizes your entire spine. Whether you are navigating the uneven pebbles of Brighton Beach or training for the Brighton Marathon, a robust core is the foundation of every movement you make. In fact, developing core strengthening safely improves almost every activity.


Beyond the Crunch: Why Core Strength Matters

A weak core often manifests as chronic lower back pain, poor posture, and decreased athletic power. At Brighton Physiotherapy, we prioritize “functional stability.” This means training your muscles to work together to support your torso, protecting your discs and nerves from unnecessary shear forces. The process prioritizes not only strength, but also purposeful core strengthening for complete physical wellbeing.

The Essential 3-Move Routine

You don’t need a gym membership to build a resilient midsection. Incorporate these three clinical favorites into your daily habit and enjoy the results of evidence-based strengthening core practices:

  • The Dead Bug: Lie on your back with arms raised and knees at 90 degrees. Slowly lower the opposite arm and leg toward the floor while keeping your lower back pressed firmly against the ground. This builds lumbar stability.
  • The Bird-Dog: From all fours, extend your right arm and left leg simultaneously. Focus on keeping your hips level like a tabletop. This targets the multifidus and glutes.
  • The Modified Side Plank: Prop yourself up on your forearm and knees (or feet for a challenge). This strengthens the obliques and quadratus lumborum, essential for lateral stability.

Local Benefits for Brighton Residents

From the steep inclines of Hanover to the windy gusts along the Promenade, Brighton’s geography demands a stable center of gravity. Implementing a consistent regimen for strengthening your core can be a game changer for city living. A dedicated core routine improves balance—essential for our older residents—and enhances force transfer for the city’s many cyclists and kitesurfers.

Physio Insight: Core strength is about endurance, not just power. It’s better to perform a move perfectly for 20 seconds than to struggle through a minute with poor form.

Take the Next Step

If you’re struggling with recurring back issues or feel “weak in the middle,” it’s time for a professional tune-up. Our team at Brighton Physiotherapy provides personalized biomechanical assessments to identify which specific core muscles are letting you down. As a result, a renewed focus on strengthening your core can transform your physical health and reduce pain.

Book your consultation today and build a foundation that lasts.

Are you looking to strengthen your core for a specific sport, or are you primarily focused on relieving daily back discomfort? If so, our Brighton team specializes in creative core strengthening programs to fit your needs.

Plank Variations | Brighton Chiropractor

Plank Variations | Brighton Chiropractor Matt Bateman shows you how to do variations of the common plank that wont cause of exacerbate any back pain

People with history of back pain may not benefit from the stand high or elbow plank because at some point the back will arch. If this happens then pressure can build on the low back joints or discs and this can cause more pain

Moving the leg in these positions can avoid dropping the back into an arch but also activate a short weak psoas which is always a key aggravation to back pain

Work on these plank variations to avoid the common plank causing any issues

Bosu Dead Bug | Brighton Chiropractor

Bosu Dead Bug | Worthing Chiropractor | Brighton Chiropractor shows a progression to a harder Dead Bug exercise on top of a BOSU which increases the instability of the exercise thus causing better activation in the spinal stabilization muscles

For further exercises and advice go to https://ccbrighton.co.uk/videos-exercises-back-pain-neck-pain-sports-injuries/

Suspension Training Mountain Climbers

Suspension Training Mountain Climbers are a great exercise to strengthen the abdominals and low back muscles.

This is an advanced exercise which is only appropiate if you have done other core stability exercises all in pain free practice and need a progression of further exercises.

A great exercise using your own body weight and a dynamic exercise which uses core stability during movement.

Side Plank Rotations Exercise | Brighton Chiropractor

Side Plank Rotation Exercise demonstrated by Brighton Chiropractor Matt Bateman. The side plank exercise is a great exercise to help stabilise the core while moving dynamically. It will strengthen the abdominals, gluteal and low back muscles which can prevent epsisodes of back pain and improve performance in other activities.

This is a good alternative to a normal plank as the movement is more realistic to everyday activities where we move twist and lift our body weight as opposed to holding a stiff rigid posture.

Please complete within pain free range of motion and stop if any back issues or pain occurs.