What are planks?

[Tammyspq]

I'm a fitness instructor and probably should know this but...what are "planks"? I see them referred to in many of the posts.

 

[Cathe Friedrich]

Planks are core strength exercises. There are many versions of planks. One of the most common versions would look like a straight leg push up position in which you hold your body in this position for a certain period of time to increase abdominal, back/spinal, and trunk region strength. Some variations are that the body is either facing up, down, or sideways in a straight leg or bent knee position for modification and in a straight arm or bent elbow position for modification. Hope this helps!