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Everything begins at our core, especially for any athlete. Many people believe the main goal and foundation of a strong core is the ultimate six pack, sound familiar? The most common misconception of core strength is concentrating only on your abdominal muscles. The entire core consists of abdominals, back, and gluteus muscles. For optimal core strength it is important to maintain a balance between these three muscle groups. 

 A key component in core strength that doesn’t get nearly the amount of attention it should is the psoas and iliopsoas muscles.  These muscles lay deep beneath the external core muscles of the abdomen and back, originating along the lumbar vertebrae, and iliac fossa of the pelvis. The psoas muscle group flexes and externally rotates the hip joint, also assisting with the rotation and flexion of the lumbar spine. As our bodies anticipate action or movement, the brain drives communication to our core muscles to stabilize the spine. An athletes weakened core will inhibit these vital movements; decreasing range of motion within lumbar rotation and hip flexion hindering training abilities and dexterity. 

The primary functional movement in hockey is spinal rotation; with out core strength the proper stabilization and rotation of the spine can not be conducted. All of the power forced through the limbs of a hockey player is accomplished from the core muscles. The additional strength that is built within the core muscles will increase the athlete’s action potential producing a more superior power to be propelled through out the movement created.

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