These innovative exercises offer a comprehensive approach to core training, targeting different muscle groups and ensuring a well-rounded home workout experience. Not to mention, minimal equipment is required and can be easily incorporated into your routine. So let’s get started!
A wall plank is a modified version of the traditional plank exercise, performed with the feet on the ground and hands against a wall, maintaining a straight line from head to heels.
This exercise targets the core muscles, including the rectus abdominis, obliques, and lower back muscles.
Unlike the traditional plank, the wall plank allows for a greater range of motion and provides a more dynamic way to engage the core muscles.
Wall planks are a great way to engage the core muscles and can be used to challenge the body in different ways. They’re especially useful for those with lower back pain and can be used to improve posture, balance, and functional movement. Below are all the reasons why adding this exercise to your home workout is a brilliant idea:
Wall planks can be easily modified to accommodate various fitness levels, making them suitable for beginners and experienced exercisers alike.
For those new to planking, the wall plank provides a less challenging alternative to the traditional plank, reducing the strain on the wrists and shoulders. As strength and endurance improve, individuals can progress by increasing the angle of their body relative to the ground or transitioning to more advanced variations.
Read More: 10 Plank Alternatives For When You Want To Switch Up Your Core Workout
A strong core is crucial for overall physical health and functional movement. Wall planks effectively engage the core muscles, leading to improved stability and balance.
By maintaining a straight body position against the wall, this exercise challenges the deep stabilizing muscles of the spine and abdomen.
This enhanced core stability can contribute to better performance in other exercises and daily activities, as well as reduce the risk of injury (5).
By strengthening the core muscles, wall planks contribute to better posture and alignment, reducing the risk of injury during daily activities and other exercises.
A strong core helps maintain proper spinal alignment, which can prevent excessive strain on the lower back and other areas of the body.
In addition, improved core strength can enhance overall body mechanics, leading to more efficient and safer movements during sports and physical activities (5).
Wall planks engage the muscles responsible for maintaining proper posture, helping prevent slouching and promote a more upright stance.
By activating the core muscles, this exercise encourages better spinal alignment and enhances awareness of one’s body position.
Over time, this can lead to a more natural, upright posture, which can alleviate pain and discomfort associated with poor posture (5).
Wall planks can be adapted by changing the angle, hand placement, or adding leg movements to target different muscle groups within the core and upper body.
For example, placing the hands wider apart on the wall targets the chest and shoulder muscles, while a narrower hand placement focuses more on the triceps.
Additionally, incorporating leg lifts or knee drives during the wall plank can further engage the lower abdominals and hip flexors, providing a more comprehensive workout.
Functional movement refers to the body’s ability to perform daily tasks efficiently and safely. Wall planks promote functional movement by targeting the muscles involved in everyday activities, such as lifting, bending, and twisting.
Strengthening these muscles can improve overall performance in daily tasks and reduce the risk of injury due to poor form or muscle imbalances (5).
Wall planks challenge the neuromuscular system by requiring individuals to maintain balance and control while performing the exercise.
This engagement of the stabilizing muscles helps develop better balance and coordination, which can translate to improved performance in other exercises and daily activities (1).
As individuals progress with wall planks, they can incorporate single-leg or single-arm variations to further challenge their balance and coordination skills.
Wall planks offer a time-efficient workout, as they engage multiple muscle groups simultaneously.
This allows for a comprehensive core workout in a relatively short amount of time. By incorporating wall planks into a fitness routine, individuals can maximize their training efficiency and achieve noticeable results with minimal time investment.
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Wall planks engage not only the core muscles but also the muscles around the shoulder joint. By pressing the hands against the wall and maintaining proper alignment, the exercise helps strengthen the rotator cuff muscles, deltoids, and scapular stabilizers.
This increased shoulder stability can lead to better performance in upper body exercises and reduce the risk of shoulder injuries.
Performing wall planks requires focus and concentration, as individuals must maintain proper form and alignment throughout the exercise.
This mental engagement helps develop a stronger mind-body connection, enhancing body awareness and control (1). As a result, individuals may experience improved performance in other exercises and sports, as well as a greater ability to maintain proper form during daily activities.
Wall planks are an accessible exercise that can be performed anywhere with a sturdy wall, making them a convenient option for those with limited space or equipment.
Additionally, wall planks are a low-impact exercise, placing minimal stress on the joints. This makes them an excellent option for individuals recovering from injuries, experiencing joint pain, or looking for a gentle yet effective way to strengthen their core muscles.
Follow these detailed steps to perform a plank wall exercise correctly and safely:
Choose a solid, sturdy wall with no obstructions around it. Ensure there is enough space for you to extend your arms and legs comfortably.
Stand facing the wall at arm’s length, with your feet hip-width apart. Place your hands on the wall, shoulder-width apart, and at shoulder height. Spread your fingers wide for better support and grip.
Lean into the wall, keeping your body in a straight line from your head to your heels. Engage your core by drawing your navel toward your spine and tucking your pelvis slightly under to maintain a neutral spine position. This alignment helps prevent arching or sagging of the lower back.
Activate your shoulder muscles by pressing your hands firmly into the wall, while keeping your shoulders down and away from your ears. This engagement helps stabilize the shoulder joint and ensures proper muscle activation throughout the exercise.
Keep your head and neck in a neutral position, with your gaze focused on a point on the wall slightly below eye level. Avoid craning your neck or looking down, as this can strain the neck muscles and hinder proper alignment.
Hold the plank position for a predetermined amount of time, such as 30 seconds to one minute, or until your form begins to falter. Keep your core engaged, your body aligned, and your shoulders active throughout the hold. Breathe deeply and steadily to ensure adequate oxygen supply to your muscles.
As you become stronger and more comfortable with the wall plank, you can progress the exercise by increasing the hold duration, adjusting your body angle to be more horizontal, or incorporating variations such as single-arm or single-leg planks.
Read More: The Beginner’s Wall Plank Guide For Toned Abs
While the basic wall plank exercise is a great way to build strength and stability, there are several variations you can use to challenge your core and upper body muscles. Here are five plank wall exercises to try:
This variation adds a leg lift to the basic wall plank, increasing the challenge for the core and lower body muscles. In addition to the core muscles, this exercise targets the glutes, hamstrings, and hip stabilizers.
How to do it:
This variation incorporates a knee drive, engaging the hip flexors and adding a dynamic element to the wall plank. This exercise targets the core, hip flexors, and lower abdominals.
How to do it:
This variation challenges your balance and stability by removing one point of contact with the wall. In addition to the core muscles, this exercise targets the shoulder stabilizers and the muscles on the sides of the torso (obliques).
How to do it:
This variation adds a dynamic shoulder tap movement, engaging the shoulder muscles and further challenging the core stability. It targets the core, shoulders, and scapular stabilizers.
How to do it:
This variation incorporates a side-to-side hip dip movement, targeting the oblique muscles and adding a rotational component to the wall plank. It targets the core, with a focus on the obliques.
How to do it:
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A 5-minute plank a day can be a beneficial addition to an exercise routine, but it may not be sufficient as a standalone workout for overall health and fitness.
According to the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM), adults should aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise or 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity aerobic exercise per week, along with muscle-strengthening activities on two or more days per week (3).
These guidelines emphasize the importance of incorporating a variety of exercises to target different muscle groups and improve cardiovascular health.
While a 5-minute plank a day can contribute to improved core strength and stability, it does not provide the same cardiovascular benefits as aerobic exercises such as running, swimming, or cycling (2).
Additionally, focusing solely on planks may neglect other important muscle groups, leading to potential imbalances and reduced overall functional fitness.
To achieve a well-rounded exercise routine, it is essential to combine the plank with other forms of exercise, such as aerobic activities, resistance training, and flexibility exercises. This approach ensures that all major muscle groups are targeted, and the body receives the necessary stimulus for optimal health and fitness.
Performing five planks a day can be a useful component of a well-rounded fitness routine, as it contributes to core strength, stability, and posture.
However, it is important to consider the exercise recommendations from reputable organizations like the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) and the American Heart Association (AHA) to ensure a comprehensive and effective workout regimen.
According to the ACSM and AHA, adults should aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise or 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity aerobic exercise per week, along with muscle-strengthening activities on two or more days per week that target all major muscle groups (3).
These guidelines emphasize the importance of incorporating various exercises to improve cardiovascular health and overall fitness.While planks are an excellent way to build core strength, they do not provide the same cardiovascular benefits as aerobic exercises such as running, swimming, or cycling.
Additionally, there’s always the risk of overtraining and injury when training the same muscle groups too frequently. You’ll know that you’re overtraining when your body feels sore and fatigued.
Other signs of overtraining include sudden drops in performance, difficulty sleeping, and a weakened immune system. To reduce the risk of overtraining, it is important to mix up exercises and give your body time to rest.
Incorporating five planks a day into your fitness routine can contribute to improved core strength, stability, and posture.
However, it is essential to follow the exercise guidelines provided by reputable organizations like the ACSM and AHA, which emphasize the importance of combining planks with cardiovascular exercises, resistance training, and flexibility exercises for a well-rounded and effective workout regimen.
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