Plank (exercise)

Isometric strength exercise

This article is about the isometric exercise for the abdominal muscles. For the lying down game, see Planking (fad). For other uses, see Plank (disambiguation).

Recruit performing a plank at a US Coast Guard training

The plank (also called a front hold, hover, or abdominal bridge) is an isometric core strength exercise that involves maintaining a position similar to a push-up.[1]

## Form

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The most common plank is the forearm plank which is held in a push-up-like position, with the body's weight borne on forearms, elbows, and toes. Many variations exist such as the side plank and the reverse plank.[2][3] The plank is commonly practiced in Pilates and yoga as exercise where it is called Chaturanga Dandasana,[4] and by those training for boxing and other sports.[5][6][7]

The "extended plank" adds substantial difficulty to the standard plank exercise. To perform the extended plank, a person begins in the push-up position and then extends the arms or hands as far forward as possible.[8]

## Effect

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The plank strengthens the abdominals, back, and shoulders. Muscles involved in the front plank include:[9]

* Primary muscles: erector spinae, rectus abdominis (abs), and transverse abdominis.
* Secondary muscles (synergists/segmental stabilizers): trapezius (traps), rhomboids, rotator cuff, the anterior, medial, and posterior deltoid muscles (delts), pectorals (pecs), serratus anterior, gluteus maximus (glutes), quadriceps (quads), and gastrocnemius.

Muscles involved in the side plank include:

* Primary: transversus abdominis muscle, gluteus medius and gluteus minimus muscles (abductors), the adductor muscles of the hip, and the external and internal obliques.
* Secondary: gluteus maximus (glutes), quadriceps (quads), and hamstrings.[10]

A study in British Journal of Sports Medicine of 270 trials found that isometric exercises which involve engaging muscles without movement, such as wall sits and planks, were more effective than other types of exercise for reducing blood pressure.[11]

## World records

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Guinness World Records lists the record for longest duration of a front plank, resting on elbows, as 9 hours, 38 minutes and 47 seconds set by Josef Šálek from the Czech Republic, in May 2023.[12] The former record of 9 hours, 30 minutes and one second was set by Daniel Scali in September 2021.[13] Before Scali, veteran Marine officer George Hood set a record of 8 hours 15 minutes and 15 seconds on February 20, 2020.[14][15][16][17][18][19] Hood also completed a record attempt in June 2018, holding a plank for 10 hours, 10 minutes and 10 seconds as well as the most cumulative plank time in a 24-hour period of 18 hours, 10 minutes and 10 seconds.[20]

The longest time in an elbow plank:

* by a woman is 4 hr 30 min 11 seconds by DonnaJean Wilde in March of 2024 (Canada).[21]
* by a woman with a 60-lb pack is 17 min and 26 sec by Eva Bulzomi (USA) in July 2013.[22]
* with a 100 lb pack is 20 min 03 sec, and was achieved by Xu Qisheng (China) in Guangzhou, Guangdong, China, on 10 November 2022.[23]

* with a 200-lb pack is 4 min 2 sec by Silehm Boussehaba (France) in March 2018.[24]

The longest single-arm plank while balancing on medicine balls is 1 min 20 seconds, by Brandon Westover (USA) in August 2021.[25]

## Gallery

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* Extended plank

* Side plank step by step

* Modified side plank

* Medicine ball plank

## See also

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* Chaturanga Dandasana – yoga low plank
* Crunch (exercise)
* Planche (exercise)
* Sit-up
* Vasishtasana – yoga side plank

## References

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1. ^ Solan, Matthew (2019-11-13). "Straight talk on planking". Harvard Health. Retrieved 2025-06-06.
2. ^ Knack Weight Training for Women: Step-by-Step Exercises for Weight Loss, Leah Garcia, p. 57. Quote:"Plank variations are abundant, and small changes increase the intensity of the exercise."
3. ^ Weight Training for Dummies, Liz Neporent, Suzanne Schlosberg, Shirley J. Archer, p. 263.
4. ^ "Four-Limbed Staff Pose". Yoga Journal. Retrieved 2011-04-09.
5. ^ Core Strength For Dummies, LaReine Chabut. Quote:"It's used in all yoga sun salutations and other poses. It is also a Pilates-based exercise used in many of Joseph Pilates exercises..."
6. ^ Pocket Guide to Fitness, Louiza Patsis, p. 176. Quote:"The "plank exercise" is used in Pilates classes."
7. ^ Kettlebells for Dummies, Sarah Lurie, p.260. Quote:"If you've done other exercises like yoga or Pilates before, you may be familiar with the plank position already."
8. ^ "Periodic Table of Bodyweight Exercises - Stack 52".
9. ^ "The Plank". Boot Camp & Military Fitness Institute. 2013-12-02. Retrieved 2019-08-07.
10. ^ "Side Plank Guide: How to Master Side Plank Form - 2025". MasterClass. Retrieved 2025-06-06.
11. ^ Bawden, Anna (25 July 2023). "Planks and wall sits best exercise for lowering blood pressure, study says". the Guardian.
12. ^ NEW: Longest Plank EVER! - Guinness World Records. Guinness World Records. May 22, 2023. Event occurs at 6:30. Retrieved 23 May 2023 - via YouTube.
13. ^ Longest plank record smashed with staggering new time Guinness World Record, September 4, 2021. Retrieved 23 July 2024.
14. ^ Armus, Teo (February 25, 2020). "Guinness world record for planking set by 62-year-old former Marine George E. Hood". The Washington Post. Retrieved 23 July 2024.
15. ^ Scipioni, Jade (March 2, 2020). "Routine of George Hood who set world record for planking". CNBC. Retrieved 23 July 2024.
16. ^ Gresik, Dylan (February 24, 2020). "At 62, Marine veteran sets the Guinness record with 8-plus hour plank". Marine Corps Times. Retrieved 23 July 2024.
17. ^ Stephenson, Kristen (February 20, 2020) Former US Marine just broke an 8 hour plank record – and he’s 62 years old Guinness World Records Retrieved 22 February 2020.
18. ^ Lee, Bruce Y. (February 24, 2020). "62-Year-Old George Hood Broke The World Record For Holding A Plank". Forbes.
19. ^ Spangler, Jessie (May 22, 2019). "A fitness instructor from Aurora has set 2 world records". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 23 July 2024.
20. ^ Danger, Jessica (June 29, 2018). "Retired Marine Sets 10+ Hour Plank World Record". Morning Chalk Up. Retrieved 5 October 2019.
21. ^ Atwal, Sanj (March 27, 2014). "Canadian grandmother planks for 4.5 hours to break women's record". Guinness World Records. Retrieved 23 July 2024.
22. ^ "Longest time in an abdominal plank position with a 60-lb pack (female)". Guinness World Records. Retrieved 23 July 2024.
23. ^ "Longest time in an abdominal plank position with a 100 lb pack". Guinness World Records. Retrieved 5 August 2024.
24. ^ "Longest time in an abdominal plank position with a 200-lb pack". Guinness World Records. Retrieved 23 July 2024.
25. ^ "Longest single-arm plank while balancing on medicine balls". Guinness World Records. Retrieved 23 July 2024.

## External links

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* Media related to Planks at Wikimedia Commons