Quick core
Increasing your core strength will reduce your risk of pain and injury and improve your ability to undertake daily tasks with ease. When completing these exercises, focus on good technique and stop if you experience lower back pain.
If you have been inactive for a while, have heart disease, or any other major health problems, injuries or are pregnant, please check with your GP, an Accredited Exercise Physiologist or other health professional before following this workout.
1. Press and plank
Recommended Repetitions: 10-15 repetitions each side
- Start in a modified side plank, knees bent
- Hold a filled water bottle in your right hand, right elbow bent and weight resting against your bicep
- Lift your hips so your body is straight from knees to shoulders, pressing water bottle up to the ceiling
- Lower hips back down to ground. Repeat on the opposite side
2. Supine bridge with leg extension
Recommended Repetitions: 10-15 repetitions
- Lie on back, knees bent and feet on floor, arms elevated above your head
- Lift hips up off the ground so that your knees, hips and shoulders are in a straight diagonal line
- Holding hips level, lift one foot off the ground 1-2 inches and slowly place down again and repeat with alternate leg
- Keep core muscles tight throughout the entire movement
3. Russian twist
Recommended Repetitions: 10-15 repetitions each side
- Sit on floor, knees bent, with your feet lifted a few centimetres off the floor
- Keep your back at a 45-degree angle, arms extended with palms together
- Move the arms from one side to another in a twisting motion
4. Contralateral limb raises
Recommended Repetitions: 10-15 repetitions each side
- Lie on your stomach with your arms outstretched and palms facing down towards the ground
- Slowly lift one arm a few inches off the floor, keeping it straight without rotating the shoulders
- Simultaneously lift the leg of the other side
- Hold the position, then lower the arm and leg back down. Remember to breathe
5. Mountain climber twists
Recommended Repetitions: 10-15 repetitions each side
- Start on your hands and toes
- Bending at the knee, bring your left knee forward directly under your chest while keeping your right leg straight
- Quickly alternate legs while keeping your core muscles tight
- Try to keep your body in a straight line without dipping in the low back. if this is too challenging, try doing the exercise on your knees
6. Three way crunches
Recommended Repetitions: 8-10 repetitions of entire sequence
- Lie on back, knees bent and one foot crossed over the other
- Perform a sequence of 3 crunches: firstly crunch to bring right elbow toward left knee, secondly crunch straight upwards, finally crunch to bring left elbow toward right knee
- Repeat this sequence
- In this exercise, you can place your hand behind your head. but be careful not to pull on your neck. Tip - use your abdominal muscles to lift your head
7. Dead bugs
Recommended Repetitions: 10-15 repetitions each side
- Lie on back with arms extended upwards and knees bent at 90degrees with feet in the air
- Drop your arm and leg on the opposite side and make sure your leg doesn’t touch the floor
- Bring them slowly back up to starting position and repeat with opposite side
8. Sprinter sit-up
Recommended Repetitions: 10-15 repetitions each side
- Lie on back with the legs straight and arms by your side, elbows bent at a 90-degree angle
- Sit up, bringing the left knee toward the right elbow
- Lower back down to starting position and repeat on the other side
