Locations:
Search IconSearch
November 18, 2021/Living Healthy/Wellness

Why You Should Start Doing Planks

Harness the power of planking in your fitness routine

person doing plank exercise on their forearms while looking at a laptop screen

Whether you want six-pack abs or content for your social media channel (#PlankChallenge, anyone?), plank exercises are equal parts fun trend and health mainstay.

Advertisement

Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. Policy

“A plank is when you hold your body in a straight and in-line position like a plank of wood,” says exercise physiologist Katie Lawton, MEd. And when done correctly, it leads to a host of health benefits.

Learn how to perform plank exercises.

5 plank benefits

While the promise of getting a six-pack from planks may be overblown (Lawton says that’s more diet-related), they still offer many benefits, including:

1. Convenience

Planking is free and takes only a couple of minutes — no gym membership or special equipment required. “You can do it anywhere,” Lawton says.

2. Protects your back

The ability to brace your core is important for many everyday activities. “Our core needs to be strong to protect the spine when doing things that can cause back pain, such as lifting your child up or leaning forward to unload the dishwasher,” she says.

3. Prevents exercise-related injuries

Squatting, dead-lifting and pressing overhead without injury is hard to do without a strong core. “We need to keep our spine straight to do these exercises. Planking provides you with better core strength to be able to brace during these movements,” Lawton says.

4. Improves posture

While Lawton says planking alone won’t improve your posture, muscle memory might. “If you can remember to brace your core throughout the day, it can help keep your lower back in a position where you’re standing or sitting up straighter.”

Advertisement

5. Boosts mental health

“Exercise can have a positive effect on our mental health,” Lawton says. “When you see yourself getting stronger, it can be encouraging. It’s also important to breathe while you plank to further engage your core muscles. Some breathing techniques can help boost your mood.”

What muscles do planks work?

Plank exercises work your core muscles, which are located between your pelvic floor and diaphragm. The area is also known as your trunk. These muscles support your movements and stabilize the spine.

Core muscles include:

  • Rectus abdominis (referred to as “abs”).
  • Obliques (run along the side of your abdomen).
  • Transversus abdominis (a deep abdominal muscle that wraps around your sides and spine).

“Plank exercises generally strengthen your ability to brace your abdominals,” notes Lawton. “Planks can also activate other related muscles, such as your glutes (muscles in your buttocks), hamstrings (muscles in the backs of your thighs) and lower back.”

How to do a plank

To do a traditional high plank, get in a pushup position and hold, with your body lifted off the ground. For proper form, make sure your:

  • Elbows are directly underneath your shoulders.
  • Glutes are engaged — slightly tilt your pelvis forward.
  • Core is tight. Hold in your belly muscles. “If someone poked your abdomen, it should be firm,” says Lawton. “Slightly rotating your hips backward can help you do that.”
  • Back and butt are straight, not sagging or sticking up in the air.

If you try to do a plank exercise and feel like you’ve bitten off more than you can chew, Lawton explains how to build up to the real deal:

  • Modified plank: Start in a pushup position. Drop your knees to the floor and hold your position. “You’re still bracing your core and abs and challenging — and strengthening — those muscles,” Lawton notes.
  • Low plank: Once you master the modified plank, you can upgrade to a low plank. Just lift your knees and rest on your elbows as you hold a plank position.

From there, the sky’s the limit. In addition to the traditional high plank, try to:

  • Add movement, such as rocking forward and backward with your feet.
  • Incorporate weights with different plank variations.
  • Do leg lifts while planking.

“You shouldn’t have any back or shoulder pain. If you do, your form may be off,” warns Lawton. “To correct your form, take a picture or video of yourself while you plank to see what you need to change.”

How long should you hold a plank?

“Hold a plank for about a minute before you start advancing,” Lawton says. “Once you can do three sets of one minute in a modified plank exercise, then progress to the low plank. If you start off at three sets of 30 seconds in a low plank, try to hold it longer and longer as the weeks go by. Same thing with the high plank.”

Advertisement

To reap the maximum benefits, Lawton recommends:

  • Plank two to four times a week.
  • Increase your time in increments of five to 10 seconds.
  • Once you can hold your position for more than a minute, progress to a new movement, like reaching overhead while planking.

“These movements often mimic our everyday activities, such as reaching to get something out of a top cabinet. By working on bracing the abs when we do these movements, you can help prevent common back injuries,” says Lawton.

What about side planks?

Not to be neglected, your obliques have a plank exercise designed just for them. To do a side plank:

  1. Lie on your side.
  2. Prop yourself up on your forearm.
  3. Raise your hips off the ground so your body forms a straight line.
  4. Put your free arm on your side or in front of you on your abdomen.

Just like the high plank, you can start on your knees and then progress to:

  • Straight legs.
  • Forearms off the ground.
  • Your free arm straight up toward the ceiling.

Side plank benefits

Side planks also help develop core stability. “Side planks help stabilize the spine and improve spine and oblique strength,” Lawton says. “For most people, one side is not as strong as the other. Another benefit of side planks is that they help you with that strength imbalance.”

Need help with planking?

Plank exercises provide an almost endless variety of ways to strengthen your core muscles. But with so many options, you may wonder where to start.

Advertisement

“Personal trainers are a great resource when you start an exercise program. They are well-educated about planks and how to progress people to more challenging movements,” Lawton says. “If you have a history of back pain, your physical therapist is another great option. They can give you good guidance about how to do a plank safely.”

Advertisement

Learn more about our editorial process.

Related Articles

Spoonful of bee pollen granules held up over bee pollen granules
October 3, 2024/Wellness
Bee Pollen: What It Is and Why You Really Don’t Need It

Fans may call it ‘nature’s multivitamin,’ but this bee byproduct’s benefits aren’t proven, and it can bring some serious allergy risks

Legs and feet of person walking through leaves on grass outside
October 2, 2024/Wellness
20 Ways To Relieve Stress

Getting outside, eating a healthy diet, taking up journaling, listening to music — even cuddling a pet — can provide stress relief

Person sitting with head on knees on floor, lit by giant cell phone, with people standing in background interacting
September 30, 2024/Mental Health
How Loneliness Can Impact Your Health

Feeling lonely may increase your risk of cardiovascular disease, depression and high blood pressure

Hands holding small bowl of propolis and dropper bottle of liquid propolis
September 26, 2024/Living Healthy
Propolis: What Is It and Is It Worth Using?

The science doesn’t support most claims about this bee byproduct, and supplements present potential risks

Person positioned on foam roller, stretching muscles
September 26, 2024/Exercise & Fitness
IT Band Stretches for Tight Muscles

Relieve a tight, achy and aggravated IT band, as well as hip and knee pain, with these at-home exercises

Person lying on yoga mat in living room doing a piriformis stretch
September 25, 2024/Exercise & Fitness
Here’s How Being Flexible Is Good for Your Health

Flexibility helps with your balance and range of motion, and can protect you from injuries

Jar of royal jelly with spoon on top, with capsules and flowers on table
September 25, 2024/Wellness
Are There Benefits to Royal Jelly?

This much-hyped bee byproduct has one possible health benefit and many unproven ones

Legs and feet of person in blue leggings walking on a treadmill at gym
September 19, 2024/Exercise & Fitness
Health Benefits of Walking Backward

Turning your walk around can burn more calories, boost your mental health and improve your posture

Trending Topics

Female and friend jogging outside
How To Increase Your Metabolism for Weight Loss

Focus on your body’s metabolic set point by eating healthy foods, making exercise a part of your routine and reducing stress

stovetop with stainless steel cookware and glassware
5 Ways Forever Chemicals (PFAS) May Affect Your Health

PFAS chemicals may make life easier — but they aren’t always so easy on the human body

jar of rice water and brush, with rice scattered around table
Could Rice Water Be the Secret To Healthier Hair?

While there’s little risk in trying this hair care treatment, there isn’t much science to back up the claims

Ad