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Graeme Hilditch wrote: < The main emphasis of pilates is to concentrate on training Transversus abdominus. Being 3rd year I am sure you understand the role of T.A in maintaining a strong middle. Pilates refers to it as a "girdle of Strength." Keeping that strong will help to maintain standing balance. >> *** Previous discussions have revealed that there is no definitive proof that TA training enhances or normalises 'functional' performance in dynamic daily and sporting activities. At least you used the word "help", unlike some others who seem to think that the centre of the physiological universe is TA. Moreover, as I have repeatedly pointed out, it is impossible to exhibit core stability without the critical involvement of the periphery of the body. Just undertake the simple exercise of spraining an ankle or injuring a knee and see how inadequate "core stability" is in maintaining your overall stability and performance. The idea of "core stability" simply perpetuates the isolated model of training. To enhance "functional stability", it is essential to learn stabilisation of the entire body and not its various parts under very different conditions such as those offered by Pilates, ball and wobble board balancing. Some folk believe that if we develop better posture through Pilates, Balls and so on, then we automatically transpose that improved posture to the training session, a belief that is not necessarily correct, because many different postures are involved throughout every sporting action, each of which is very different from posture learned on balance ball or wobble board. This is supported by plenty of research which shows that balance also involves a great deal of specificity. Competence in Pilates or Ball drills does not reflexively result in improved balance in any different balancing or movement situations. In fact, the use of Pilates and other conditioning schemes abolishes the use of a very fundamental aspect of overall dynamic stabilisation, namely the "stepping reflex" which all of us use to ensure that we do not fall over if our current state of balance is perturbed by an outside agency. The inability to use such a reflex is a major reason why low paraplegics, for instance, who may have exceptional core stability and strength, have very poor overall stability. In fact, the latter example raises a very interesting issue (one which is very close to my heart, since I am married to a paraplegic lass) - those with spinal injuries cannot use their lower extremities, yet often can use resistance training to develop exceptional "core strength and stability", so how does this enhanced core function enable them to display better overall balance and stability? The answer is pretty obvious - to express general stability, it is necessary to have effective peripheral stability, not only "core stability" - if anyone really cannot accept that, please have a spinal block (injection of an analgesic into the spine at a suitable level) and temporarily eliminate the ability to use your periphery, then try to balance on a ball, wobble board or what you will. A simpler experiment, simply bandage your toes or ankle very rigidly to diminish peripheral joint flexibility and see how much your great core stability will diminish. Or sit on your legs until you experience those familiar "pins and needles: down your legs, then leap onto a ball or wobble board and see how well you express your "core stability". The sooner we realise that the important issue is the development of overall stability, not the isolated development of the "core", the better for all sports training and rehabilitation. By the way, when one is executing any Pilates, ball or wobble board manoeuvres, the periphery of the body may be relatively far more involved in the static stabilisation process than the core, so that it is a complete misnomer to refer to any of the popular "core stability" training methods as "core stability" methods! Moreover, we should never forget the crucial balancing role played by certain little balancing organs in the very peripheral head, especially the vestibular system of the ears. Notice, too, how much the eyes are involved in balancing by trying the same skills with eyes closed. Dr Mel C Siff Denver, USA http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Supertraining/