Plank exercise tips: How to build core strength [Video]

Planks are widely considered by fitness experts to be a fantastic exercise to strengthen the muscles in your core and elsewhere, no matter your age or physical fitness level.

There are numerous versions of the plank, but its basic form involves balancing on your toes and forearms while holding your body off the ground.

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A plank may seem daunting, especially if you are not a fitness fanatic. But it can be modified to be more accessible — or much more difficult.

No one knows for sure who invented the plank, but some credit Joseph Pilates, who created the Pilates exercise regimen in the early 1900s. What is clear, however, is that the plank became the favored core exercise a decade or so ago, eclipsing the crunch and sit-up. The latter two exercises can put …