Why planks work

It's important to never compromise your form. Having bad form — like allowing your lower back to sag or popping your butt into the air — can increase your risk for injuries and make the plank less effective.

While planks are always a whole-body exercise, certain types of planks can give specific muscle groups an added workout. Modified planks can also make the exercise harder, giving you an additional challenge once you've mastered regular planks.

Maintaining the same tenants of a traditional plank, rotate onto your side, extending one arm toward the ceiling and balancing on one foot. These are the muscles between your ribs. This is the same idea as a standard plank, but you're facing the ceiling rather than the floor.

Lay on your back, and push your upper body up with your arms extended beneath you, until your body is forming a straight line. Hold this position. No matter your fitness level, planks are a good exercise to incorporate into your fitness routine.

You can challenge yourself to do planks daily — and even integrate them into the beginning of your stretching and cooldown routine so you don't forget about them.

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Is a common pain reliever safe during pregnancy? Can vaping help you quit smoking? Print This Page Click to Print. Is there anyone who should not plank? Any certain spine conditions? Kathy Schroth. Neil Wolkodoff, PhD. Brock Murdoch. Poul Winther. George d. Jose Luksamana Jr. Children's Health. Free Healthbeat Signup Get the latest in health news delivered to your inbox!

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Want to incorporate planks into your everyday regime? Try these different variations on the classic exercise. A study published in Global Advances in Health and Medicine found that side planks could also help reduce spinal curvature in scoliosis patients. That means they can even help reduce the chances of spinal problems, or the need for corrective surgery in the future.

If you want to increase your balance challenge, try lifting your free arm in the air. Remember to switch sides! The movement may be tricky to master at first, but it will engage your entire core while also improving your balance.

This simple twist on the classic plank pose looks easy to maneuver, but it will have you sore the next day! Now that you know how to plank, get ready for some killer abs! A stronger core will increase your athletic performance and everyday abilities.

Want a strong core, back, legs, and glutes? Try these 14 plank variations to make planks less painful or boring to do. Looking to get your midsection swimsuit-ready? These five moves will tighten up your core and boost your confidence.

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What Muscles Do Planks Work? The Answer: A Lot. Medically reviewed by Daniel Bubnis, M. Muscles used Benefits How to do it Common mistakes Variations Bottom line The plank is a classic exercise that works your muscles from head to toe. Share on Pinterest Getty Images.

What muscles do planks work? Benefits of the plank. How to do a plank correctly. Common mistakes when doing plank exercises. Variations of the plank exercise. The bottom line. Read this next. The Worthwhile Benefits of Plank Exercises. The 10 Best Running Shorts for Women for