核心肌群是這些年來被廣用的名詞,然大眾對它的認識大部分一知半解。本文主要以解剖學與人體力學的觀點,對核心肌群做一解說。核心肌群指的是包圍及負責穩定脊柱的所有肌肉,它們共同在腹腔組成一個密閉式的圓柱狀。當這些肌肉同時收縮時,使腹腔內壓增加,形成一個穩固的軀幹核心,讓人體在做運動時更具效益,並進一步可減少運動傷害的發生。廣義的核心肌群除了上述肌肉之外,四肢近端與軀幹連結的肌肉均屬之。對核心肌群應有的共識是:四肢的運動會影響到軀幹的穩定,而軀幹的穩定有助於四肢運動的操控。所以當談及核心肌群與其訓練時,四肢近端肌肉會因所討論與訓練的不同內容,被選擇性地包含在核心肌群中。而核心肌群的主要目的便是穩固與操控軀幹。
The term ”core muscle” has been commonly used in the recent year; however, the precise meaning of core muscle is not well defined. This article provides a functional definition of core muscle from the anatomical and human kinetic point of view. The core muscle includes those muscles that surrounding the spinal cord and those of helping to stabilize the trunk. Simultaneous contraction of the core muscle will increase intra-abdominal pressure, providing a more rigid cylinder for trunk support, therefore, creating a more efficient movement for body exercise, and decreasing the possibility of sports injury. Regarding to the functional definition of core muscle, muscles that attaches to the proximal end of extremities must be taken into account since the movement of extremities will influence the stability of trunk, and the trunk stability will benefit the controlling of body movement.