Core Clinic
🧩 Understanding Core Dysfunction
Why Your Core Matters—and How Physical Therapy Can Help You Rebuild It from the Inside Out
​What Is Core Dysfunction?
When most people think of their “core,” they picture abs and sit-ups. But your core is much more than just your abdominal muscles—it’s a deep system of muscles, fascia, and nervous system control that supports your spine, organs, breathing, and overall movement.
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Core dysfunction happens when this system isn’t working well together. That might mean certain muscles are weak, tight, overworking, or out of sync. This can lead to symptoms like:
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Low back, pelvic, or hip pain
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Poor posture or spinal instability
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Trouble breathing efficiently (shallow or chest breathing)
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Difficulty engaging core muscles during exercise
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Leaking urine or pelvic pressure (especially during coughing, lifting, or sneezing)
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Bulging or doming of the abdomen (common with diastasis recti)
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Core dysfunction is common during and after pregnancy, but it can also show up in athletes, post-surgery patients, or anyone dealing with injury, stress, or repetitive strain. The good news? The core is highly trainable—with the right approach.
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💡 Your Core Is a System, Not Just a Six-Pack
A well-functioning core involves four key parts working together:
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Diaphragm – your main breathing muscle
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Pelvic floor – supports organs and controls pressure from below
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Deep abdominal muscles (like the transversus abdominis) – provide tension and support
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Multifidus and deep spinal stabilizers – small muscles that support each vertebra
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When these pieces aren’t coordinating well, the system can’t manage pressure or stabilize efficiently—and that’s when discomfort, weakness, or dysfunction shows up.
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🧠How Physical Therapy Can Help
A skilled physical therapist does more than treat symptoms—they assess how your core is functioning as a whole and guide you through retraining it with targeted, progressive strategies.
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Here’s how PT helps:
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✅ Reconnect You to Your Deep Core
Most people with core dysfunction have lost their ability to feel and activate the deep core system. Your PT will teach you how to breathe, move, and engage your core without bracing, gripping, or overcompensating.
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✅ Treat Related Pain or Dysfunction
Whether you’re dealing with back pain, pelvic floor symptoms, diastasis recti, or hip tightness, PT addresses the root causes—not just the surface symptoms—through a whole-body lens.
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✅ Rebuild Stability Without Strain
You’ll learn how to safely return to your favorite activities, exercises, or daily movements with core support that feels natural and sustainable.
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✅ Educate & Empower
Your therapist will help you understand how posture, stress, movement habits, or prior injury may be contributing to dysfunction—and give you the tools to change it.
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🔬 What the Research Says
Studies show that core retraining improves function, reduces pain, and enhances quality of life—especially for people with low back pain, pelvic floor dysfunction, or post-partum concerns. Core rehab that includes breathwork, deep core coordination, and functional movement is far more effective than traditional ab exercises alone.
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💪 In Short:
If you’re feeling disconnected from your core, struggling with pain or weakness, or unsure how to move safely—you don’t need to push harder. You need to reconnect smarter.
With guidance from a physical therapist who understands the core as an integrated system, you can rebuild strength, support, and confidence from the inside out.
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You Deserve to Feel Strong, Stable, and At Home in Your Body
Whether you're healing from injury, navigating postpartum recovery, preparing for or recovering from surgery or just trying to get your body working better, physical therapy for core dysfunction can help you move, breathe, and live more fully.
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Ready to feel strong at your center? We're here to help.