SearchSubscribePremiumExclusivesHealthNovelCoronavirusBrainHealthMemoryMentalHealthSleep&EnergyHealthConditionsConditionCentersWeightLossDietsFitnessWorkoutsWorkoutClothes&GearVirtualWalk2021SexRelationshipsFood&NutritionHealthyEatingRecipesBeautySkinCareMakeupHairStyleLifeValentine'sDayMother'sDayGiftsNewsletterFollowFacebookTwitterInstagramYouTubePinterestAboutPrevention.comWinShopPreventionLampsDoNotSellMyPersonalInformationSubscribeSignInMyAccountSignOutTypekeyword(s)tosearchToday'sTopStories1PrimeDayBeautyDealsYouCan’tMiss2HowtoFeelBetterAboutAnything3TheAbsoluteBestSunscreensof20214SliponTheseWalkingShoesforAll-DayComfort5AbExercisesforaStrongerCoreTylerJoeWhetheryou’retakingagroupfitnessclassorfollowinganexerciseDVDathome,it’sasurebetthatyou’llbedoingplanksatsomepointduringtheworkout—andforgoodreason.Planksaretheultimatetestoftotal-bodystrength,notjustyourcore.That’swhythey’rethegroundworkformanybodyweightexercises,likepush-upsandburpees.“Theplankisoneofthosejack-of-all-tradesexercisesyoucancarryinyourbackpockettostrengthennotonlyyourcore,butalsoyourchest,arms,back,legs,andbooty,”explains,NicoleBlades,asNASM-certifiedtraineratBodyRocFitLabinConnecticut.“Aplankwithproperformcanhelpimproveyourposture,too.Thebestpartis,thisdynamicmovedoesn’trequireanyequipment.It’satotalbodyweightexercise.”Sowhatmusclesdoplankswork,exactly?Whetheryou’reinaloworhighplank,you’rebalancingweightonyourarmsandtoes.Thistargetsawiderangeofmuscles,especiallytherectusandtransverseabdominis,Bladessays.Therectusabdominisarethefrontmusclesintheabdomenthatsupportthemusclesofthespineandhelpkeeporgansintheabdomenareainplace.They’reknownasthe“six-packmuscles”becausetheygiveyourabsshapeanddefinition.Ontheotherhand,thetransverseabdominis(TVA)musclesareknownasthe“corsetingmuscles”becausetheycinchthewaistandactascorestabilizersthatsupportthelowback.Infact,aweakTVAisoftentheculpritoflowerbackpain.TheBestPlankExercisesHowtoDoPlankJackstoToneYourEntireBodyLower-AbExercisestoSetYourCoreonFire“Planksalso