A strong core is important for injury recovery and prevention. It also helps improve posture, decreases pain, and improves balance and stability. The traditional core exercises such as sit-ups, crunches and other popular abdominal exercises stress the spine and can cause serious injury. The repetitive flexion of the spine can overload the discs.
A better way to strengthen your core is to do exercises while keeping a neutral spine and avoiding bending and twisting. It is also better to work your core muscles together instead of in isolation.
The 3 Core Exercises:
1. Modified Curl-up
2. Bird Dog
3. Side Bridge
Watch this video
As always, if you have pain stop.