Muscles between the shoulder and knee all go towards supporting your torso. Some wrap around, some travel up but all go towards allowing you to walk upright.
I agree that being able to sustain the plank for over 60 seconds (without crying for mummy) displays some decent core strength.
FFS SBZ GOWI
Naw!!!
Plank for 60 secs, pah 2 minutes is more like it. Then I want my mummy.
Grrrrrrrrrrr
muscles in the abdomen that act as the leverage for limbs to act against. it does not mean abs.
I think it is misunderstood by a lot of people.
surely the only important muscles are your biceps and 6pack, they're the only reason men work out aren't they?
Don't forget your glutes Phil.
Guns and Buns baby, guns and buns.
Its a measurement of how many crunches you can do. Everyone knows it
OK - take a cylinder with your pelvic floor as the base and your diaphragm as the lid and the muscles round your belly and back as the wall. It's basically every muscle that can be used to increase the pressure within that cylinder whilst keeping it cylinder shaped.
i bet he can do 1000 sit-ups just like peter andre used to do!
*MEGA SWOOOON*
surely the only important muscles are your biceps and 6pack, they're the only reason men work out aren't they?
I only work the glamour muscles. Why do anything else?
for me it include glutes, hips, pelvis, lower back and the much smaller muscles i.e not six pack ones - like the ones that if you put your fingers an inch in from your hip bones and then i think an inch or so down...despite my physio telling me the names a few times, i can't remember them. Working on strengthening that one has made a huge difference.
I'm training for the 'human flag' now.
I read it was the muscles surrounding your spine both inside and out, not so much your abs.
I think it's the muscles you use when staggering around drunkenly pretending to fall over with a 25kg toddler on your shoulders.
What is core strength?
The latest buzz-phrase to get the paying punters to hand over their money to the gym whilst not actually attending any classes or using the kit.
And because it's invisible, you can't deny it's existence.
Genius
Is it like.. strength.. in your core..?
Surrounded By Zulus - Member
OK - take a cylinder with your pelvic floor as the base and your diaphragm as the lid and the muscles round your belly and back as the wall. It's basically every muscle that can be used to increase the pressure within that cylinder whilst keeping it cylinder shaped.
Oh, a standard textbook definition, I thought we were going to hear something interesting 
OK - take a cylinder with your pelvic floor as the base and your diaphragm as the lid and the muscles round your belly and back as the wall. It's basically every muscle that can be used to increase the pressure within that cylinder whilst keeping it cylinder shaped.
How is that a definition of core strength? It's just a vague location guide to numerous but not all postural muscles.
Do you have a better one?
So, it's what I said, then.
Rah.
Welcome to Fight Afternoon! Get your tickets for the showdown of the day! iDave vs SbZ! Roll up roll up!
All you've said is where you believe core muscles to be located - that doesn't define 'core strength'.
Shhh Molly - it's not often you get to see two silver backs squaring up in the wilds of the chat forum, right in the heart of fitness forest. Too much publicity and we might spook them.
Anyone want a pint of electrolyte replacement mix, protein bar or banana?
And you've refused to answer my question. Do you have a constructive point or are you going to do your usual pissing in the wind?
You asked a question, you waited until people had answered, then you gave what you felt was the correct answer. I just pointed out that it contained nothing at all relating to the 'strength' of any muscles, just where they were.
So, for example had you said "Core strength is defined as the ability of the muscles and muscle groups located in XYZ, to contract with sufficient force to allow ABC..." you'd be a little closer to the truth you seek.
Off of Wikipedia...
The core is more than just your abdominals, though that is what many people associate with the word. The glutes and lower back muscles, called the erector spinae, may come to mind as well. But even these three groups are not all of the core muscles. There is also the psoas muscle of the hips and the multifidus of the spine. All of these muscles stabilize the trunk, including the spine and pelvis, and core strength training targets these muscles.
That still appears to be a "NO".
You appear to have answered the question "what are core muscles? " not "what is core strength? "
I think iDave has a point. You've said what the 'core' is, but surely 'core strength' is about what it does, and why that's important?
For extra marks you could include a method of measuring it and for a distinction, what exercises one may do to increase it.
And the Wikipedia entry reads like it was written by the gym instructor at the local leisure centre. I'm not saying it's wrong (I wouldn't know), but it doesn't sound particularly authoritative.
the Wikipedia entry
The Wiki thing was actually from Livestrong... so you're probably right. I just thought it'd make for a better argument if it looked like Wiki was more authoritative than the right honourable Mr SBZ.
Anyway - where did I say I was answering the question of what core strength is?
Without invoking theoretically cylindrical torsos, I think Stoner had the best "everyday" definition
Stoner - Member
Core strength = the muscles that let you swing a sledgehammer without falling over
On of my collegues reading over my shoulder has just defined core muscles as "the ones you use for farting, puking and shagging" - also gets the message across in plainspeak 
This is going well....
Anyway - where did I say I was answering the question of what core strength is?
well.....
Do you have a better one?
... suggests strongly that you offered a definition then got in a strop about it being challenged?
I assume you can fill in the XYZ and ABC in my post, then you have your definition on a plate?
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