We’re familiar with where the abs are in the body, but what about our deep stabilizing muscles? You might hear them called “the corset” because they wrap around your middle and help you bend, rotate, and hold yourself steady as you move through the day. Yet when they become underactive or stop firing as they should, the body recruits larger, surface muscles to compensate.
Those big muscles do their best — but they were never meant for constant stabilization. When they work too hard for too long, they can grow tight and uncomfortable. This often shows up as back or hip pain, tight shoulders and neck, sore knees, or even pelvic floor troubles. And here’s the tricky part: Stretching alone usually doesn’t resolve it. Until the deep stabilizers are reawakened, the discomfort tends to return.
The best path forward begins with controlled, intentional exercise like holding a plank for 30 to 60 seconds. You’ll know you’re engaging the deep core when movement feels smoother, with a quiet sense of support from the inside. If your breath locks up or your belly pushes outward, it simply means the outer muscles are trying to help. No matter what happens, know that it’s okay. With patience and practice, you can begin to strengthen and rely more on your stabilizing muscles and, in turn, find real relief from pain.
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