Benefits of Plank Exercises
It is always a good idea to do what you can to keep in shape. There are numerous types of exercises you can do, and different exercises will train different parts of the body. Which exercises are best for you will depend on your current condition and what you hope to achieve.
Plank exercises will help to exercise core muscles, which are those that provide us with much of our support and balance. The exercise involves getting into a press-up type position, except with your elbows bent so they are flat against the floor. Plank exercises provide us with a variety of benefits, some of which are listed below.
1. Improves Core Strength
In the abdomen area of the body are four muscle groups, known collectively as the core. These include the rectus abdominis, which give us a “six-pack” when well defined. They also include the internal and external obliques, the transverse abdominis, and the glutes. Keeping these muscle groups strong is important because they are essential for stability and flexibility. Exercising these muscles will help with actions such as twisting and jumping. It is often too easy when working out to miss most of the muscles in this group, so plank exercises make a good complement to your workout.
2. Improves Muscle Tone
A lot of people dream of getting a six-pack; it helps to make for a great look when we are in the gym and it can also mean being able to wear certain clothes that we should not usually wear. It is quite hard to achieve, however, and many people will give up before achieving their goal. If you are planning on getting a six-pack while also toning the rest of your core, plank exercises could be just what you need.
There is still a lot of work to be done, but plank exercises can still help you to get the results you want.
3. Improves Posture
The ideal posture is to be stood upright as much as possible, with the shoulders also held high. Some people don’t quite have the right posture, though, but plank exercises can help to correct their posture for them. Plank exercises will help to develop your posture and the muscles that will help to hold your body in a suitable position.
This can be beneficial in a number of ways. For starters, a good posture helps to ensure equal distribution of weight, and this will help with movement and prevent too much pressure being placed on other parts of the body. It can also help you aesthetically, giving a more commanding posture, and even help with self-confidence.
4. Back Pain
A lot of people experience back pain. In some instances, it can be enough to cause a considerable loss in their quality of living. Dealing with back pain can be difficult, but exercising well may be able to help. Plank exercises in particular can be effective at overcoming back pain.
The main reason the exercise will help to reduce back pain is that it will help to realign the spine. This encourages equal distribution of weight, and this can mean that your back-pain woes will go away. You should also consider speaking with a doctor if your back pain is bothering you too much.
5. Reduces Injuries
If your posture is not right then you will increase your chances of picking up injuries. This would otherwise mean injuries like spine and hip injuries that can be painful, inconvenient, and maybe also dangerous. Plank exercises, however, will encourage a better posture and, thus, help to prevent injuries.
Not only can plank exercises help reduce the chance of injuries in the long term, but they can also do so during your actual work out. A lot of exercises are more demanding on the body and this can lead to injuries. While still effective, however, plank exercises are less likely to lead to injuries, provided they are done right.
6. Improves Flexibility
Flexibility in our bodies is very important for us. Without sufficient flexibility we will find it difficult to move as freely as usual. This can mean that the patient will struggle to do simple tasks, and working can become a real problem for some people.
Plank exercises help to exercise the muscle groups that will help ensure we stay as flexible as possible. This is very important for people who wish to maintain an active lifestyle. If you are suffering from being too inflexible and you are not sure why, you should consider speaking with a doctor to find out what the cause is.
7. Coordination
Even just being able to walk takes a great deal of coordination. We barely think about it, but every step we take requires countless adjustments to help us to keep our balance while moving. This requires an alert and healthy brain, while it also requires muscles that are in good condition.
A lot of our ability to balance comes from our core, so strong muscles here will help us to maintain our coordination. This is ideal for sports people who push their bodies hard and also for less active people who still need to go about their day-to-day lives.
8. Joint Health
As time goes by, our joints will begin to deteriorate from wear and tear. This will affect some people worse than others and some people will all but lose their mobility as a result. It can be worse in active people as they are more likely to put their joints under duress.
The good news for those people is that plank exercises can help to strengthen bones and joints by helping to encourage the creation of more bone tissues. It helps to ensure our joints are able to move smoothly, while the exercises also help to encourage circulation through our joints.
9. Improves Mood
Our overall mental health is largely affected by our physical well-being. The muscle groups that plank exercises work on are prone to becoming tense, and this tension can contribute to anxiety. Plank exercises can help to relieve this tension in our muscles, and this can help to improve our mood overall.
In addition, exercise in general helps to release endorphins. These are “happy” hormones and having them released into our bodies will help to make us feel better about ourselves. In addition, plank exercises will help to encourage overall fitness, and this will also likely improve our mood considerably overall.
10. More Energy
Plank exercises will help to strengthen your muscles. Larger muscles will mean that you burn off more calories even when your body is resting. This can go a long way to helping people reduce excess fat, and it will even be taking place when you are sleeping or sitting at your desk at work.
An enhanced metabolism will also make you feel hungry more often. This might not sound like a positive to begin with but, provided these additional calories are burned up, it can be very positive indeed. You can be left feeling a lot more energetic and happier to get involved with activities.
