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Why should you care about muscles you can't even see? The answer is, among other reasons, to flatten abs, eliminate back pain - particularly lower back pain - and achieve core fitness.

By now you are probably familiar with "core training" or you have at least heard the term used on TV or in various fitness publications. Your "core" refers not just to the abdominals, but your entire trunk musculature, including those deep muscles you can't even see (like the Transversus Abdominis, or TVA).

Back pain is one of the biggest complaints of men of ALL ages, and many women suffer from it as well, especially during and after pregnancy. You see a weak core, combined with other problems such as tightness in certain muscle groups, lousy form and poor selection of exercises is one of the leading causes of lower back pain. The good news is that it's largely preventable with a few easy exercises.

There's more. Your core is also the seat of power for your entire body. If you're an athlete - recreational or competitive - core strength means better performance on the playing field. If you're a non-athlete, greater core strength means more efficient and safer performance of regular day to day activities. If you know anyone who blew out their back lifting boxes or simply doing work around the house you know what I'm talking about.

About 15 years ago, I was diagnosed with a herniated disk, and at one point a neurosurgeon told me I should be on the lookout for "foot flop". This is when the nerves in the leg go numb to the point where the foot literally drags on the ground and, he explained, that surgery was imminent and unavoidable. I was fairly freaked out. An alternative therapy was an epidural injection of steroids which, after just one treatment, did provide relief.