None of the moves elicited greater muscle activation than the traditional crunch and the plank and side plank scored significantly lower.

Choose the side plank pose to call upon all the deep muscles of the core plus the obliques.

The authors advise anyone with hypertension or heart disease to skip the wall sit, plank and side plank.

Prop torso up on extended right arm and raise hips until body forms a straight line (side plank).

Many variations exist such as the side plank and the reverse plank.