Health Fitness & Exercise How to Do a Proper Plank That Works All the Right Muscles Stronger abs without a single crunch? Yes, please. Here's how to do a plank the right way every time. By Kimberly Dawn Neumann and Maggie Seaver Maggie Seaver Maggie Seaver is the digital health and wellness editor at Real Simple, with seven years of experience writing lifestyle and wellness content. She spends her days writing and editing stories about sleep, mental health, fitness, preventive health, nutrition, personal development, relationships, healthy habits, and beyond. She loves demystifying complicated health topics, debunking wellness fads, and sharing practical, science-backed solutions for healthy living. Real Simple's Editorial Guidelines Updated on November 4, 2022 Fact checked by Emily Peterson Fact checked by Emily Peterson Emily Peterson is an experienced fact-checker and editor with Bachelor's degrees in English Literature and French. Our Fact-Checking Process Share Tweet Pin Email Meet the sit-up's smarter, more effective sibling: the plank. Less than 10 minutes of planking (correctly) a few times a week flattens and strengthens the deep abdominals more effectively than a thousand crunches can, says Geralyn Coopersmith, VP of member services at Exos and the former global director of performance and fitness training for Nike. Doing a proper plank is also a test of muscle control. Once you're in a plank, you shouldn't shift an inch (except to keep breathing!). Yes, superficially, planks are key for a toned middle, but inside, they're the key to a strong core, safe spine, and pain-free back. "Strong abs keep your spine supported," Coopersmith says. "Think of doing planks as midsection multitasking." How to Start Working Out (If You Basically Haven't Moved in Ages) Getty Images How to Do a Plank Learn to do a plank correctly and safely every time to maximize this multipurpose move. With a solid plank, you'll be training your abdominals, shoulders, and triceps, as well as the glutes and quads. Getting Into Position Upper Body 1. Press your palms firmly into the floor and press up from your foundation, widening your shoulder blades until they are as far apart as possible (this engages your upper back). Think of the back of your neck lifting up toward the ceiling, while keeping your neck lengthened forward (read: don't look down). Don't let the shoulders scrunch or shrug up toward your ears. Your arms should feel engaged, but comfortable—not as if they're about to give out. Lower Body 2. Doing a plank may target the abs, but your legs should feel a little burn too. If they don't, push back through your heels and push the balls of your feet into the floor. Engage your quadriceps (aka thighs) and squeeze your gluteals (butt muscles) together to activate the muscles in your lower body. Think of muscles in your butt wrapping strongly around the "sit bones." 3. Speaking of gluteals, keep your booty nice and low during a plank—not lifted toward the sky. Your body should look like a straight line rather than a triangle. Your Breath 4. Don't forget to breathe. Just because you're challenging your muscles to sustain contraction doesn't mean your lungs should stop moving. Remember to inhale and exhale rhythmically throughout the duration of your plank. In fact, if you're not one to watch the clock—and you are one to forget to breathe—it might be helpful to time your plank by breaths in and out. If you're just starting out, try holding a plank for five breaths in and five breaths out before releasing. Alignment 5. Want to ensure proper plank alignment? Imagine a glass of water balancing on your lower back or a ball rolling from the nape of your neck to your heels without getting stuck in a sunken valley (meaning your collapsed lower back) along the way. Just starting out? Only hold a plank for as long as you can do it correctly and stay in this position. If that's 10 seconds—that's fine! Work your way up to a minute or more little by little. There's no point doing it if you're not doing it safely. Henry Leutwyler Try This Basic Plank Routine Press your hands and knees to the floor with your back in a neutral position and wrists aligned directly under your shoulders. Gaze about one foot in front of you. Your nose should point toward the floor and the back of your neck should be parallel to the ceiling. Extend your right leg back, with toes flexed, then bring your left leg to join it. The weight of your body should now be fully supported by your hands and toes. Tighten your entire midsection by activating your abs, as if you were bracing for a punch to the gut—or trying to draw your navel up toward the ceiling. Lift the pelvic floor (as if trying to stop the flow of urine) to engage your super-deep ab muscles. Hold this position for 20 to 60 seconds, remembering to breathe. Rest. Bring your knees to the floor, then sit back on your heels, keeping your big toes touching and your knees apart. Lower your torso to let it rest on the tops of your thighs, with your forehead lightly touching the ground. Your arms should be stretched out in front of you, straight but comfortable (you may recognize this as the yoga position child's pose). Repeat the above, doing a total of three planks. As you become stronger and doing a plank becomes easier, try holding it for longer than a minute. 7 Morning Stretches That Give Your Whole Day a Boost By Kimberly Dawn NeumannBy Maggie Seaver Frequently Asked Questions How long should a beginner hold a plank? Most personal trainers suggest you should hold a plank anywhere between 10 and 30 seconds for it to be effective, but the good news is that you can work up to that amount of time. If you cannot do 10 whole seconds in the beginning, work your way up slowly, starting at five and then gradually moving up in five-second intervals each week as your muscles strengthen. How long should I plank for a flat stomach? Because planks work your core abdominal muscles, they are one of the best exercises to reduce belly fat and create the look of a leaner, flatter stomach. To achieve these results, experts suggest you plank for at least 60 seconds a day for at least thirty days to see results. Does planking reduce belly fat? Planking burns belly fat because the exercise engages multiple core muscles at once, which boosts your body's metabolic rate. In simpler terms, planks not only help you to burn calories, but they increase your overall muscle strength as well. Planks are the ultimate full-body workout. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit Sources Real Simple is committed to using high-quality, reputable sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts in our articles. Read our editorial guidelines to learn more about how we fact check our content for accuracy. Calatayud J, Escriche-Escuder A, Cruz-Montecinos C, et al. Tolerability and muscle activity of core muscle exercises in chronic low-back pain. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2019;16(19):3509. doi:10.3390/ijerph16193509 Youdas JW, Coleman KC, Holstad EE, et al. Magnitudes of muscle activation of spine stabilizers in healthy adults during prone on elbow planking exercises with and without a fitness ball. Physiother Theory Pract. 2018;34(3):212-222. doi:10.1080/09593985.2017.1377792