Core (abdominal) Bracing

Abdominal bracing can be easily taught to patients. Clinicians should have their patients explore the functional range of the lumbar spine and and find the neutral spine posture that includes a slight lordosis (the normal curve in lower back). While maintaining a neutral spine, the patient tenses muscles in 360* around the lower lumbar spine while continuing to breathe naturally. The muscles involved in this co-contraction include the transverse abdominis, internal and external obliques, rectus abdominis, quadratus lumborum, erector spinae, and multifidi. In addition, the patient should practice abdominal bracing in a variety of positions. Abdominal bracing should be maintained while adding basic core-stabilizing exercises such as the bird dog, side-bridge and curl-up. According to McGill, et al., abdominal bracing emphasizes locking the rib cage to the pelvis in order to eliminate spine twisting or torsion by transforming the involved muscles into isometric stabilizers.