The Truth About Your Core: Why Most People Train It Wrong (and How to Fix It)

When most people think about “core training,” they picture crunches, planks, sit-ups, or ab burnouts.
But the truth is this:

Most core exercises people are doing only target the outer core — not the deep stabilising system that actually protects your spine, prevents pain, and controls your posture.

Today, we want to break down the difference between the outer unit and the inner unit, why it matters more than you realise, and how the Pelvic Pro Core Trainer helps you rebuild your core from the inside out.

Outer Unit vs Inner Unit: What’s the Difference?

The Outer Unit (The “Beach Muscles”)

These are the muscles everyone recognises. The ones that show up in fitness magazines, ab challenges, and gym selfies.

They look good, and they absolutely matter for movement.

  • Rectus abdominus (the six pack)
  • Obliques 

Their main job is to move the trunk: Flexing/bending and rotating/twisting

And yes — everybody has these muscles, even if they’re currently hiding under a bit of padding.

But they’re only half the story.

The Inner Unit (Your Deep Core)

Beneath the outer unit lies your inner unit — a set of deep stabilising muscles that include:

  • Transverse Abdominis (TVA)
  • Pelvic floor muscles
  • Diaphragm
  • Multifidus

These muscles don’t create big visible movements.

Their job is far more important:

👉 Stabilise your spine and pelvis so your body can move safely and efficiently.

When the deep core isn’t functioning well, everything above and below it starts to compensate.

And that’s where problems begin.

What Happens When the Inner Unit Isn’t Working?

When your inner unit is underactive, your outer unit has to work twice as hard.
That means your “movement muscles” are now forced into “stability muscles” too — a job they're not designed for long term.

This leads to:

  • Overworked lower-back muscles
  • Tight hip flexors and hamstrings
  • Core muscles that feel weak, no matter how much you train
  • Poor posture and misalignment
  • Pelvic instabilityIncreased risk of injury
  • Lingering back, hip, or pelvic pain

No one likes being overworked — including your muscles.

So instead of building strength, your body builds tension.

The Three Non-Negotiable Jobs of a Healthy Core

A functional inner unit should be able to:

1. Provide proper stability to the spine

Before movement happens, stability must happen.

2. Maintain optimal alignment of the pelvis and spine during movement

This is what keeps your lower back from “dumping” into extension when you reach overhead or lift your legs.

3. Prevent excessive stress or compensation during limb movement

If your spine shifts every time you lift an arm or leg, your core isn’t doing its job.

If you’ve ever raised your arms above your head and felt your lower back arch instantly — that’s your deep core not firing.

Why Most Traditional Core Exercises Are Not Enough

Crunches target the outer unit.
Sit-ups target the outer unit.
Even planks, while useful, keep the body still — they don’t teach your core how to stabilise during movement.

Your body needs to be able to stabilize while moving, not just while holding still.

That’s where a lot of core training falls short.

How the PelvicPro Core Trainer Fixes This Problem

The Pelvic Pro Core Trainer was designed to help you reconnect with your deep stabilising system — especially the TVA — using gentle, precise pressure feedback.

And this approach isn’t new. It’s grounded in decades of clinical research.

Backed by Biofeedback Research

In the 1990s, researchers like Richardson and Jull et al. studied the effects of pressure biofeedback for deep core activation.
Their work demonstrated that biofeedback tools could: 

  • Improve activation of the deep stabilisers (especially the TVA)
  • Reduce compensatory movement in the spine and pelvis
  • Reduce risk of injury
  • Improve functional movement and performance

This type of biofeedback has been used widely in clinical environments — but until now, it hasn't been accessible in a simple, affordable tool for everyday home use.

Pelvic Pro was created to bridge that gap — bringing clinically-informed deep-core training into a convenient, easy-to-use home device.

Here’s what it does:

1. Helps you find your inner unit

Most people have no idea how to activate their deep core.

The Core Trainer gives you instant feedback so you know whether the TVA is actually working (and when it's not!)

2. Helps you rebuild a strong, functional foundation

Once you can find the TVA, simple progressions help you gradually build strength and endurance.

3. Helps you refine your stability during movement

This is where real-life benefits show up:

  • Better posture
  • Less pain
  • More stability when lifting or running or whatever you're into!
  • Better balance
  • Stronger connection between pelvis, spine, and limbs

This is inside-out strength — the kind that supports you for life.

Extended Black Friday Offer (One Week Only)

To help more people reconnect with their deep core, we’ve extended our Black Friday promotion:

🔥 25% off all Core Trainers
🚚 Free NZ-wide shipping
💥 No discount code required — it applies automatically at checkout

If you want to move better, feel stronger, reduce pain, and finally train your core the way it was designed to function, now is the perfect time.

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