Technique Tips: The Lateral Plank

The Exercise: The Lateral Plank⠀

Most of the time, this exercise is performed with the feet on the floor. I prefer to elevate the feet using a small box in order to bring the body into better alignment. ⠀ ⠀ In this position, I want to see a straight body line from the shoulders to the ankles AND a straight line from the elbow of the supporting arm to the fingertips of the raised arm.⠀ ⠀ It’s a small change, but it allows for better alignment through the shoulders. Since there isn’t a lot of space around the joint, small changes can cause pain/discomfort, impingement, and/or other dysfunction. This foot-elevated position allows the shoulder of the supporting arm to remain in a more neutral position in which to support the majority of the body’s weight. ⠀ If you think about it, it only takes something small like sleeping in the wrong position to tweak your shoulder the next day. So, make sure you're placing your body in the most optimal positions when training!