Planks.....

work_on_it

Are they worth it? I mean.. i can feel my body resisting it so it must be doing something...right?

cwolfman13

Worth it for what? They're a decent core exercise...nothing more, nothing less. Personally, I think they've gone from one of the most underrated exercises to being one of the most overrated exercises...but they're a decent core workout.

gymprincess1234

I do planks as a part of my circuit workout, but don't think it's any better or worse than other exercises.

rsclause

I like them because they are easy to fit into a rigid time window. I was doing side, front side and crunch 30 seconds on and 30 seconds rest for 16 minutes each morning. I should probably start back doing them again. All the other ab work apps and programs kept adding time as they progressed.

stanmann571

The only planks I do are high and low(on hands not elbows... and that's because they help with my Pushup form.

Once you lock in the correct structure and tension, it's not all that much harder than standing still(which is actually sort of hard if you're actually standing still)

lporter229

cwolfman13 wrote: »

Worth it for what? They're a decent core exercise...nothing more, nothing less. Personally, I think they've gone from one of the most underrated exercises to being one of the most overrated exercises...but they're a decent core workout.

Exactly. Planks are a good way to increase your core strength, which, among other things, will give you better posture and help decrease the risk of injury from other activities. Will you be walking around with 6 pack abs in a month just from doing planks every day? Pretty much no.

work_on_it

Thanks everyone! Good perspective here. I keep doing them as part of my circuit... I just didn't know if there was something better to do. Sounds like it doesn't hurt to keep them around.

stanmann571

work_on_it wrote: »

Thanks everyone! Good perspective here. I keep doing them as part of my circuit... I just didn't know if there was something better to do. Sounds like it doesn't hurt to keep them around.

Make sure you work in all the different planks

Traditional(elbows)
High(pushup--up position)
Low(Pushup--down position--arms at 90 degrees)
Side(High and elbow)

J72FIT

work_on_it wrote: »

Are they worth it? I mean.. i can feel my body resisting it so it must be doing something...right?

Planks are a great way to work your core while protecting your back. I love them...

kavahni

I've built up a pretty good ability at planking, but recently my PT adjusted my core exercises away from planks and crunches.
Her point is that planking and crunches, while they do have some effect, do not reflect how we actually use our bodies in real life. She changed my plank form to more like what we used to call a mad cat, only it's not a mad cat, it's just sort of like a mad cat. And she took me off crunches and put me on Norwegian crunches. Both of these are done mechanically more like how you actually use your body as you work your way through your day. So you work the muscles that have more basis in reality. Does that make any sense? I hope so, because the change has made perfect sense for me.

Packerjohn

Try this version, RKC (Russian Kettlebell Certification) plank. Nice upgrade to regular planks.

https://drjohnrusin.com/the-best-exercise-you-arent-doing-rkc-plank/?utm_source=6+Phase+Warm+Up+List&utm_campaign=9b8ae63595-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2017_05_30&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_dbdf8838e3-9b8ae63595-518119681&mc_cid=9b8ae63595&mc_eid=23d44ad006

Spliner1969

I've had the most improvement in my core over the last year with planks than anything else. Situps are horribly bad for your spine (and I ended up injured doing too many of them - but i have spinal issues anyway), crunches (which I still do before my planks) are a bit better. I do combinations of planks and crunches for my core, works well.

manderson27

You know it's working when you can do this

Cherimoose

Personally, I think they've gone from one of the most underrated exercises to being one of the most overrated exercises...but they're a decent core workout.

I agree with this. They have little effect on the appearance of the abs (despite what many think), and they're not as functional as standing exercises that work your core. Once you can master doing planks for 60 seconds, and perhaps 1 or 2 planks variations, consider progressing to new exercises.

sgt1372

Compound weightlifting will do more for your core and the rest of your body than planks will and doing straight plank pushups will do more for your core, pecs, lats, shoulders and arms than just doing planks will.

So why bother doing just planks? No reason IMO.

canadianlbs

i like planks for the sensory feedback on what 'integration' really feels like. because i'm body-dyslexic that way. then with my nervous system's memory refreshed, i find it easier to be better at the 'core' component of everything else that i do.

rybo

One of the overlooked things about planks is how tense a person should be. You shouldn't just be holding the position, you should have everything tensed and braced, glutes, quads, shoulders, abs, etc. Planks should be one small piece of a solid core program, and once a person is capable of other more challenging core moves, they can be dropped or significantly reduced in frequency

FatWithFatness

They're also great for hip mobility.

J72FIT

rybo wrote: »

One of the overlooked things about planks is how tense a person should be. You shouldn't just be holding the position, you should have everything tensed and braced, glutes, quads, shoulders, abs, etc. Planks should be one small piece of a solid core program, and once a person is capable of other more challenging core moves, they can be dropped or significantly reduced in frequency

Indeed...