Use your abs!

The transversus abdominis (TA) is one of your core stabilizing muscles. It’s like a corset that wraps around your trunk. It’s supposed to turn on in anticipation of a movement to get your body ready and stay on until you’ve completed your task. When it’s activated, imagine your trunk is like a washboard. Your limbs have an easier time doing when you want them to do. Now, when it’s shut off, imagine your trunk as a sac of potatoes. It’s extra effort just to do even a simple movement! Sadly, the TA often doesn’t get the attention it deserves. It’s  hidden behind several layers of more famously known abdominal muscles.

For some people, due to less ideal postures, muscle imbalances or long standing back pain, their TA no longer fires appropriate or at all. The body compensates using other muscles which leads you down the path of injury. That means you may experience pain in your back, hips, knees, ankles! So above all, make sure you have strong, functional core stabilizers!