Other reason may be because no equipment is needed to perform planks as it is a bodyweight exercise and the difficulty can always be increased by increasing the duration for which we perform this move.

The advantage that the plank has over sit-ups and other ab exercises is that it puts the majority of the emphasis on the core region and less strain on the lumbar region thus preventing lower back injuries. In fact, according to the American Council on Exercise, performing planks on a regular basis not only strengthens the core muscles but also the muscles of the upper back, thus playing a vital role in reducing back pain.



Well, it does have a lot of positive effects on the human body but there are some negative ones associated with it too. For example, hundreds of plank lovers suffer every year from costochondritis, an inflammation of the cartilage that connects the ribs to the sternum.

The plank is an isometric exercise and isometric exercises are basically not recommended for people with high blood pressure as they are said to raise blood pressure. So, if you have high blood pressure, you should definitely visit your doctor first before performing this exercise. If not, you need not be worried as the percentage of people who suffer from costochondritis is very low.