No one knows for sure who invented the plank, but some credit Joseph Pilates, who created the Pilates exercise regimen in the early 1900s. What is clear, however, is that the plank became the favored core exercise a decade or so ago, eclipsing the crunch and sit-up. “They also have a lot of value because they’re body weight based, so you can plank anytime, anywhere.”Maintain proper form when doing a plank. MoMo Productions/Digital Vision/Getty ImagesFinally, planks can help with a wide variety of issues outside of strength, posture and balance. You should always tighten your core muscles while planking, along with your glutes and quadriceps, the Morrow and Logue said.

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Persons: Joseph Pilates, Claire Morrow, ” Morrow, Julie Logue, ” Logue, “, MoMo, Morrow, Logue, ”, you’ve, Sanja Radin, iStockphoto, Melanie Radzicki McManus Organizations: CNN, SilverSneakers, Healthcare, Research, CNN’s Locations: San Francisco