With Coach Alexa, Online Running Coach and in-person coaching in South Oxfordshire
Looking at the Front of the Torso
To follow up on my last video about the back, this one is about the front of the torso – more commonly known as the chest. The diagram I am using shows some of the deeper muscles on the right-hand side and some of the bigger muscles on the left-hand side.
Layers of Muscles
There are lots of layers here, many of which are not even shown in the picture. The abdominal muscles run in all sorts of directions. Some go side to side, some up and down, and some diagonally. Essentially, there are muscles running in every direction we could need to bend at the waist. These are layers upon layers of muscles all crossing each other.
There are also muscles that run between each rib. These help with breathing, particularly when we are working harder during cardio exercise. Many of the deeper muscles also run up into the neck, and there are smaller ones that stabilise the collarbone and anchor the shoulders onto the rib cage.
There is a huge amount going on in this area. From my experience as a sports massage therapist, many of these muscles are often tight in people with arms-forward jobs, such as sitting at a desk, working at a computer or driving.
Larger, More Visible Muscles
On the other side of the diagram, you can see some of the larger muscles that we might train in the gym. These include the big pec muscles, the smaller pec muscles, the deltoid, the bicep, the front of the upper traps, and larger muscles that go up into the front of the neck.
There are also larger abdominal muscles that help us to stabilise and twist.
Ligaments, Tendons and Stabilising Muscles
You can also see a little of the ligaments and tendons in this area, which adds another level of complexity.
The larger muscles are the ones we usually train through traditional strength training. The stabilising muscles, on the other hand, are worked more through practices such as yoga or Pilates. Running also makes use of these muscles – the shoulders and surrounding muscles act almost like part of the propulsion system when we run.
Why This Matters
Strength training for the whole torso is great for running form, posture, and reducing the likelihood of back or neck pain. This is increasingly important in today’s society, where postural habits often create added strain.
Hope that’s useful – happy running.
