Dynamic Side Plank
The Dynamic Side Plank is a simple movement that packs a whole lot of punch. You’ll love what it does for your obliques and overall trunk- and it’s a great lead-in for learning to do the human flag! Many of you are probably used to doing a side plank static if you practice yoga – I encourage you to give this dynamic version a shot, too, as it has different benefits and will challenge you in a new way.
In one of our previous posts, The Other Side of Abdominal Training, we explained the different muscles and movements of the trunk. In particular, we talked about the obliques’ huge role in trunk rotation, as well as in lateral flexion or side bending. Many times you’ll see someone in the gym duplicating the oblique side-bend movement by holding onto a dumbbell or plate with one arm and bending from side to side like a windshield wiper. While that isn’t necessarily a bad exercise, we can do it another way that uses just our own bodyweight while integrating more of the body. This makes the movement much more effective.
Abdominal Muscles: The Obliques
The Dynamic Side Plank works not only with the obliques, but also with something called the frontal plane stabilization system which includes the Adductors (inner thighs), Abductors (outer hip like the Glute Medius), and low back muscles like the Quadratus Lumborum and Erector Spinae. This exercise also challenges the rotator cuff and the larger muscle of the shoulder joint, the Deltoid.
Check out the video below to see how it comes together. Give it a shot and you’ll see just what I mean by packs a whole lot of punch!
For some additional great trunk exercises, check out some of my other videos here:
Love it – different from the way I was performing these. I was keeping my heels inline. Thx!
Btw – what kind of shoes are you wearing – just nosy and always on the lookout for new fitness goodies.
Hey Nunh, those are Reebok classics. Love those shoes
These are particularly brutal if you press a kettlebell in your free hand while planking.
Hey Mike,
have you tried a side plank pushup yet? You basically get into a side plank position, and you do a 1-arm pushup, side-ways using you supporting arm. I’ve seen very few people do it. Heres one guy doing them http://recordsetter.com/world-record/side-plank-press-ups/12637
Hey Rob, funny you should ask. I was thinking about doing a tutorial on the side plank push up in the near future. thanks for the suggestion and stay in touch!
Hey Mike,
Love the website, great content.
Thanks
James
Awesome James, thanks for the kind words