By: Hope Whitman, PT, DPT, OCS Low back pain is surprisingly common in teen gymnasts. A recent study looked at what’s happening in their core muscles—and the results point to a few clear patterns. (Deodato et al., 2024). Young gymnasts with ongoing low back pain tended to have: ● Core muscle imbalance — Their abdominals...
By: Erica Tran, PT, DPT, OCS If you’ve ever been told to “strengthen your core” but still struggle with abdominal pressure, bloating, pelvic heaviness, or urinary leakage, it’s possible that traditional core exercises are missing the mark. That’s because one of the most important muscles in your core is one you can’t see, but when...
Whether you’re cycling through deadlifts in a WOD or chasing PRs with heavy back squats, one of the most overlooked — yet critical — components for female athletes is the pelvic floor. More than just “private” muscles, the pelvic floor plays a key role in core stability, breathing mechanics, and load transfer. Learning to connect...