Can ‘core’ muscles be influenced by foot and hand posture?
Research and clinical results in corrective exercises would suggest so. What has been appreciated for years in performance in sport and yoga in the form of strength is now being explained through science. A study monitoring a person’s reaction to being pushed showed the foot and hand posture to influence this. In particular, their reaction time to maintain balance was quicker with specific posturing of the hands and feet. This study was inspired by hand and foot posturing in yoga. Similar hand posturing has been observed in other forms of athleticism such as with cyclists in the Tour de France.
I hesitate to use the word ‘core’ when referring to corrective exercises as all too often the ‘core’ is not being properly engaged. The proof that the exercises one is doing is in fact engaging the ‘core’ lies in the results. One should feel that they are getting stronger and that they feel a sense of lightness. For example, it is easier to go up stairs as well as to lift and carry.
A direct correlation with this sense of improved strength will be better posture. As this foot and hand posturing gets reestablished the common stubborn rounded shoulders and forward head carriage should start to correct. I say reestablished as most of us would have had this good posturing in the early stage of our lives. Perhaps those well intended words of advice, “sit up straight”, “bring those shoulders back” would get better results if directed to the feet and hands.
There is a new term being coined, ‘centration’ to help describe good posture. ‘Centration’ is when the adjacent bones making up a joint are in maximum contact. This is when the joint is in it’s most stable state. When referring to the spine this would be described as the joints being stacked well on top of each other such that gravity is minimally affecting the body’s ability to be upright.
To sum it up good hand and foot posture directly prompts the rest of body to similarly adopt good posture. That is to be well ‘centrated’. It is from this well ‘centrated’ posture that one can maximize their performance while at the same time minimize their risk from injury.
This foot and hand posturing gives a strong case for helping to explain why results from traditional core exercises are so inconsistent.