I can't hold a plank for long - how do I get more effect out of a session?

Question

I can hold a plank for 20-30 seconds tops, far shorter after I have done some other work. I have a couple of ideas on how to get more volume and effect out of a session:

• Hold until holding the perfect form becomes too hard to do, rest 20 seconds, repeat a few times
• Set timer to maybe 45 seconds, hold until holding the perfect form becomes too hard to do, start again holding the plank after the next beep, repeat a few times
• Hold 10 seconds, rest 10 seconds, repeat a few times

Of course the actual values for the times will vary. Are there other ways to achieve my goal? Which one should I pick, and why?

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Edit to clarify:

My goal is to strengthen my core for health reasons and to be stronger overall. I assume that holding the plank for a short time period = little training effect. So I'm looking for a structured way to get the most effect out of my workout.

Answer 1

What you want to do is use Prilepin tables, which specify how many sets of which duration you should hold for optimal (or near optimal) progress. The goal is always to have about 60 seconds total hold time; once you can do this in a single set it is time to progress to a harder variation (otherwise, you are no longer doing strength work). In the case of a plank, you might consider moving on to a one-leg, then one-arm, then one-leg-one-arm variation, or just push out your arms further and further from your body. You should also consider doing other bodyline exercises, see this pdf for instructions -- the 'fish' exercise is the "opposite" movement to the plank.

For your particular case, per the tables above, you should aim for a 16-20s hold time and repeat for 3-4 sets.

Answer 2

First of all why do you focus only on the plank to maximize the holding time? You can work other exercises that are going to help you with your plank. your whole body is involved in the plank - shoulders, back, legs, abs. Figure out which part of the body dies first and try to strengthen it.

Of course this is not a matter of strength as it is more a matter of endurance. You need to perform this exercise often in order for your body to get used to it. The muscles will adapt and start keeping the position for longer periods of time. Your suggestions to train for it sound good only that I don't understand why you would only hold it for as long as a good form of the exercise is present. After you start getting tired your muscles can no longer maintain a good form but they still keep pushing. Thus I believe you should aim to hold it for as long as you can rather than just until a good form is present. Why? In order to get the muscles used to holding for longer amounts of time. Your endurance strength will progressively increase. The longer you hold, the better. Thus the 10 sec hold vs 10 sec rest doesn't seem very promising to me.

Answer 3

To use the plank to get stronger, you should plank for strenuous but submaximal times. In your case that would probably be sets of about 20 seconds, using multiple sets (e.g. 3-6) and resting briefly (e.g. 15 to 90 seconds) between sets. Aim for a reliable 40-second hold in a month or two.

I agree with Arthlete that the only option that looks really unproductive is 10 second hold/10 second rest. The other options you present would be fine. Keep your planks challenging without demanding an all-out effort from your body in every set.