Crawling is tough. It’s a primal movement that most of us haven’t had to do with any regularity for many years. However, the reason it’s our primary and initial means of locomotion is because it involves so many different muscle groups. It’s not just about the hips and legs, it trains the core to stabilize as well as build the strength of the shoulders and hands. It is a fundamental movement that is truly a total body exercise.
Returning to these movements can be done with the same variation and intensity as any other exercise. In fact, it is in the variation of this movement that it becomes effective. Bear Crawls, Army Crawls, Crab Walks, Dolley Walks and Lame Dogs (see the video) all teach the body to use all the musculature in coordination to generate movement helps to gain control and balance.

Jaime Gamache M.Ed., CSCS, is Owner and Head Strength Coach at The Way Human Performance Institute.  Follow us also on Facebook and Twitter.   Any questions or requests for future topics, please email jgamache@thewayhpi.com