Planks
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balletgrrl
Cathlete
Hi Susan,
I'm not Cathe, but I always thought the purpose of doing planks was to increase your core strength. I'm sure you've noticed that when you do them, your entire core area (all ab muscles, upper and lower back) is working really hard. It is a great strength and stabilization exercise. Also, I think it is good for your upper body as well since your arms, shoulders and chest are also working to hold you up.
As a former ballet dancer, I can tell you that developing a strong core is SOOOOO important. It will help you in ALL your fitness activities. Although you don't realize, engaging your core really makes a lot of movements a whole lot easier, not to mention doing wonders for your balance and posture.
Hope this helps!
Alison
I'm not Cathe, but I always thought the purpose of doing planks was to increase your core strength. I'm sure you've noticed that when you do them, your entire core area (all ab muscles, upper and lower back) is working really hard. It is a great strength and stabilization exercise. Also, I think it is good for your upper body as well since your arms, shoulders and chest are also working to hold you up.
As a former ballet dancer, I can tell you that developing a strong core is SOOOOO important. It will help you in ALL your fitness activities. Although you don't realize, engaging your core really makes a lot of movements a whole lot easier, not to mention doing wonders for your balance and posture.
Hope this helps!
Alison
pace1987
Cathlete
Allison!!
Hi Alison!!
You said this so well because the other day I was so determine to do those pikes and finally did a few because this time I engage my core really hard. So you see before I didn't and couldn't get up there and this time I did and finally did it
. I know people said it before but I guess I wasn't paying attention engaging my core, but it is so true if you really engage the core it does make different moves a lot easier.
Hi Alison!!
You said this so well because the other day I was so determine to do those pikes and finally did a few because this time I engage my core really hard. So you see before I didn't and couldn't get up there and this time I did and finally did it
. I know people said it before but I guess I wasn't paying attention engaging my core, but it is so true if you really engage the core it does make different moves a lot easier.balletgrrl
Cathlete
I don't think that doing crunches and oblique work challenges your core in the same way as planks. Again, you are working multiple muscles groups in conjunction with one another. You are calling on your abs, back, arms, chest, shoulders all at once. Strengthening all these groups together works on stabilization of your core as a whole rather than separate body parts like abs, obliques, etc. I think planks are just a way of engaging many muscle groups to strengthen, increase balance, posture, and stabilization ablities.
Does this make sense?
Does this make sense?
Not Cathe again, but I love planks and the reason I do is because I can feel it work the entire core area, sometimes having to really work to hold the plank. When I do regular crunches, etc. I don't really feel it that much (could be doing it wrong I guess, but the planks definitely work me well).
DebbieH
Cathlete
Susan, I think because you are not using EXTRA muscles to stabalize you when you are on your back on the floor. Plus, when you are are facing down, you are working against gravity. Don't know all the scientifics behind it, but I know I use LOTS more muscles facing downward. Just an idea.
Your-Friend-In-Fitness, DebbieH http://www.handykult.de/plaudersmilies.de/wavey.gif[/img] If You Get The Choice To Sit It Out Or Dance...I Hope You DANCE!!!
Your-Friend-In-Fitness, DebbieH http://www.handykult.de/plaudersmilies.de/wavey.gif[/img] If You Get The Choice To Sit It Out Or Dance...I Hope You DANCE!!!
DebbieH
Cathlete
Also...
If I remember right, I think Cathe once said that the muscles work overtime just holding the organs in place while you are in a prone position and that is a GOOD thing! I want my organs where they should be! ;-)
Your-Friend-In-Fitness, DebbieH http://www.handykult.de/plaudersmilies.de/wavey.gif[/img] If You Get The Choice To Sit It Out Or Dance...I Hope You DANCE!!!
If I remember right, I think Cathe once said that the muscles work overtime just holding the organs in place while you are in a prone position and that is a GOOD thing! I want my organs where they should be! ;-)
Your-Friend-In-Fitness, DebbieH http://www.handykult.de/plaudersmilies.de/wavey.gif[/img] If You Get The Choice To Sit It Out Or Dance...I Hope You DANCE!!!
Cathe Friedrich
Administrator
Hi Susan! Everyone has done so well giving you their input I'll go into a little more detail for you.
Planks have become more popular now that core strength and functional fitness are "hot topics" in the fitness world. Research shows us that training for function promotes a better quality of life. It improves posture and conditions the body to perform daily activities more efficiently. Plus, it improves balance, coordination, strength, endurance, and joint integrity. This happens mainly because the selected exercises cause the muscles of the entire body to work together to stabilize the body while also performing against gravity.
Your core muscles are the muscles of your abs and back. Core strength refers to their ability to support your spine and keep your body stable and balanced. Therefore, it too, trains the body for enhanced fuctional movement.
Planks are those exercises that help strengthen your core in the integrated fashion mentioned above. They most specifically target and strengthen the transverse abdominis muscle, the deepest of the abdominal muscles which wraps around your spine for protection.
The core is made up of other muscles too (external obliques, internal obliques, rectus abdominis, and erector spinae) however, I find that planks work the transverse abdominis muscle most effectively.
You may also be interested in knowing that the bike manuever effectively targets the obliques, crunches effectively target the rectus abdominis, and the superman variations effectively target the erector spinae. While all muscles of the abdominals are worked whenever you do any abdominal exercise, these particular exercises have been proven to most specifically engage these areas of the abdominals.
For a complete and balanced core/abdominal routine, be sure to include these exercises (or variations of them) in your core workouts.
Hope this helps
I'll go into a little more detail for you. Planks have become more popular now that core strength and functional fitness are "hot topics" in the fitness world. Research shows us that training for function promotes a better quality of life. It improves posture and conditions the body to perform daily activities more efficiently. Plus, it improves balance, coordination, strength, endurance, and joint integrity. This happens mainly because the selected exercises cause the muscles of the entire body to work together to stabilize the body while also performing against gravity.
Your core muscles are the muscles of your abs and back. Core strength refers to their ability to support your spine and keep your body stable and balanced. Therefore, it too, trains the body for enhanced fuctional movement.
Planks are those exercises that help strengthen your core in the integrated fashion mentioned above. They most specifically target and strengthen the transverse abdominis muscle, the deepest of the abdominal muscles which wraps around your spine for protection.
The core is made up of other muscles too (external obliques, internal obliques, rectus abdominis, and erector spinae) however, I find that planks work the transverse abdominis muscle most effectively.
You may also be interested in knowing that the bike manuever effectively targets the obliques, crunches effectively target the rectus abdominis, and the superman variations effectively target the erector spinae. While all muscles of the abdominals are worked whenever you do any abdominal exercise, these particular exercises have been proven to most specifically engage these areas of the abdominals.
For a complete and balanced core/abdominal routine, be sure to include these exercises (or variations of them) in your core workouts.
Hope this helps