ot long after working your core became the central focus of fitness training, the plank eclipsed the crunch (which had overtaken the sit-up) as the go-to core exercise. Also known as a front hold, hover or abdominal bridge, the plank is, at least in its basic form, a static, isometric strength exercise that could be called a pre-push-up. It involves maintaining a difficult, potentially arduous, position in which one’s body weight is held up by the hands or forearms, elbows and toes—often for an extended period of time.
The plank became so popular so quickly—and was proven in both the gym and the research lab to deliver the goods—that until recently, very few trainers even bothered to take a second look. However, now that the dust has settled, a few voices are quietly questioning not whether the plank is a quality exercise, but maybe, just maybe, fitness pros may be over-relying on it in core training or not properly integrating it into clients’ overall workout regimens.