Widely considered the creme de la creme of core exercises, the plank is a firm favourite among fitness pros for more reasons than one. Recruiting multiple muscle groups, it’s a compound movement that helps to build entire body strength, stabilise the spine and improve posture – and there are so many variations, the move is suitable for most experience levels. But, what types of planks are the most effective?
If the exercise is new to you, PT Aimee Victoria Long describes the plank as an isometric movement that involves maintaining tension and holding a position similar to the starting point of a push-up, for a period of time. “It primarily engages the abdominal muscles, but it also works the back, shoulders, arms, and legs,” she explains. In a study published last year in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, isometric exercise – specifically, wall squats and planks – was identified as beneficial for lowering blood pressure.
