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Direction-of-travel diagram for the anti lateral flexion pattern. Photography for the Side Plank is not shot yet.
CalisthenicsIn review

Side Plank

A timed side hold supported on one forearm and the feet.

This page is a working draft. A coach has not reviewed it, so read it as a starting point, not as checked instruction.

Pattern
Anti lateral flexion
Modality
Calisthenics
Difficulty
Beginner
Mechanic
Unknown
Force
Unknown
Laterality
Unilateral
Impact
Low
Trains where
Gym, Home
At home
Yes

How to do it

Set up

  1. Lie on one side with the supporting elbow under the shoulder and legs extended.

Do the rep

  1. Lift your hips until the head, trunk, and feet form a straight line.
  2. Hold without rotating, then lower under control.

What counts as a rep

Time counts while the supporting elbow stays under the shoulder and the head, hips, and feet form one straight line.

Count only the time held with the supporting elbow under the shoulder and the head, hips, and feet in one straight line.

Breathing

Take steady breaths while you keep the ribs and hips stacked.

Cues

  • Press the floor away
  • Lift the underside waist
  • Stack the hips

Common mistakes

  • Rolling the chest forward

    What you seeThe upper shoulder turns toward the floor.

    FixKeep the shoulders and hips stacked.

    Stacked shoulders and hips keep the side hold aligned.

  • Hips dropping

    What you seeThe hips fall below the line from shoulder to feet.

    FixShorten the hold and lift the hips back into line.

    A level hip position preserves the timed trunk challenge.

Stop the set if

  • Stop if you feel sharp pain.
  • End the hold when the hips drop or the shoulders and hips cannot stay stacked.
  • End the set when you cannot meet the stated range under control.

General educational content, not individual coaching or medical advice.

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