Advice seems to be extremely polarizing now. Very all or nothing! Planks are definitely an exercise I’ve seen talked about a lot regarding bracing.
Should you brace? Should you relax? How should you do a plank?!
Well, I’m not a fan of relaxing into exercise. Exercise is for building muscle!! Exercise is for working on targeted strengthening!
Breath work, repositioning, and in some cases, low level correctives can have a relaxing component, but exercise should have the focus of working.
The key is to know what you are working. Where should you feel it? What’s your goal?
If you give a client a plank and they feel too much pelvic floor pressure, does that mean you relax in the plank? No, of course not! It means you sort out WHY they are feeling pressure in the plank and what needs to be stronger to support the pressure, OR what needs to change to modify the pressure. Maybe an exercise needs to get a pinch easier, but relaxing as exercise… just not my cup of tea. 🤨 Let’s have purpose with exercise and get results!
Did you know I teach online:
Online Continuing Education for Fitness and Health Professionals
PCES - Pregnancy & Postpartum Corrective Exercise Specialist
www.coreexercisesolutions.com/postpartum-corrective-exercise-specialist/
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