Side Plank
Technique guide
Set-up
- Lie on your side with your elbow under your shoulder and legs stacked.
How to do it
- Lift your hips until your body forms a straight line.
- Hold for the prescribed time.
- Repeat on the other side.
Coaching cues
- Push the floor away with your forearm.
- Keep your hips stacked, not rolling forward.
Common mistakes
- Letting the hips drop.
- Shoulder creeping up towards the ear.
Safety
- To make it easier, bend your knees and rest on your bottom knee.
Reviewed by Anthony Markson on 2026-11-01
This is general fitness information, not medical advice. If you have pain or an injury, see a doctor or physiotherapist before training.
Alternatives
Easier and harder versions of this movement, and the same movement with other equipment.
Same movement
Other options
- PlankBodyweight
- Hanging Leg RaisePull-Up Bar
- Bicycle CrunchBodyweight
- Mountain ClimbersBodyweight
- Russian TwistBodyweight
- Dead BugBodyweight
- V-UpBodyweight
- Cable CrunchCable
- Cable WoodchopperCable
- Ab Crunch MachineMachine
- Rotary Torso MachineMachine
- Weighted Sit-UpDumbbell
- Weighted Russian TwistDumbbell
- Resistance Band Pallof PressBand
- Hanging Knee RaisePull-Up Bar
- Hollow Body HoldBodyweight
- Ab Wheel RolloutBodyweight
- Reverse CrunchBodyweight
- Flutter KicksBodyweight
- Bird DogBodyweight
- Toes-to-BarPull-Up Bar
- Weighted PlankDumbbell
- Cable Pallof PressCable
- Captain's Chair Knee RaiseMachine
- Resistance Band Dead BugBand
- Knees-to-ElbowsPull-Up Bar
- GHD Sit-UpGHD
- AbMat Sit-UpBodyweight
- Hollow RockBodyweight
- L-SitBodyweight
Build your free muscle program
Pick your level and get a full week of training, ready to log. Free, no sign-up.
