4 Plank Exercises That Work More Than Just Your Abs

Planks have been all the rage in the fitness field the past few years—they’ve trumped the crunch (and many other moves, for that matter) as the go-to exercise for strengthening the core muscles, the group of trunk muscles that surround the spine and include the abs, hips and glutes. And for good reasons:

Planks and plank variations require constant abdominal stabilization and, in some variations, body rotation, which an American Council of Exercise-commissioned study ranked as the top two criteria for determining the most effective abdominal exercises.

Planks encourage core stability. A study published in the American College of Sports Medicine Journal emphasizes the importance of core stability not only for normal movement patterns for everyday activities and sports, but also for injury prevention. The study also notes the efficacy of core stability and strengthening in the treatment of low back pain.

To reap all of these benefits, planks and plank variations need to be completed with correct form. We asked NASM-certified trainer and functional movement expert Erik Taylor to walk us through how to execute a plank—as well as four plank variations—the right way.

Plank

plank1. Lie on your stomach, flat on the floor. Push up onto your forearms.
2. Bend your elbows and rest your weight on your forearms.
3. Keep your elbows under your shoulders.
4. Pull your belly button towards your spine.
5. Your body should form a flat line. Don’t let your hips sag, and don’t push your butt up—keep your body in a straight line.
6. You can do this plank on your hands instead of your elbows if you prefer (if you feel any pain or stiffness in your wrists, balance your weight on your elbows instead).

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