Even if you don't workout regularly, you'll have heard of the humble plank. The reliable and widely accessible workout move promises to both challenge and develop the core, from the comfort of your living room, using only your bodyweight, and in as little as a couple of minutes. And with celebrities including Victoria Beckham, Margot Robbie and Kate Hudson having all been spotted practising the core move on social media, we wanted to know: how effective are planks really?
Is the bodyweight exercise new to you? Personal trainer Aimee Victoria Long describes it as a core-strengthening movement that involves holding a position similar to a push-up for a specific duration. “It primarily targets the muscles of the core, including the rectus abdominis, obliques, transverse abdominis, and also engages the shoulders, back, and glutes,” she explains. Together, these muscles work to stabilise your spine and keep your body balanced, so it’s important that they’re prioritised during your training.
