Faculty Sponsor(s)
Janet Peterson & Sarah Coste
Location
Jereld R. Nicholson Library
Subject Area
Health, Human Performance & Athletics
Description
PURPOSE: Adequate strength of core musculature is critical for optimal physical performance and postural control. Currently, standards for core musculature strength and stability have not been established. This study sought to determine normative fitness measurements of core musculature endurance using the plank exercise.
METHODS: 168 collegiate male and female participants (18-25 years of age) were recruited. Participants were instructed in plank positioning; elbows bent at 90° directly below the shoulders, hands unclasped, feet placed hip width apart with ankles at 90° and pelvis tilted in the neutral position. After a 5-minute warm-up, participants were told to maintain the plank position as long as possible until complete fatigue was reached. The test was terminated if proper form was broken. The total time held in proper plank position was recorded.
RESULTS: The mean time held in the plank position was 96.25 + 43.16 and 116.58 + 65.49 seconds for females and males, respectively. For females, quartiles showed that the 25th percentile was 63 seconds, the 50th percentile was 90 seconds, while the 75th percentile was 121 seconds. Quartiles for males were 77seconds, 106 seconds and 128.5 seconds for the 25th, 50th and 75th percentiles, respectively.
CONCLUSION: This study provides normative values for the plank exercise that can be added to current fitness appraisal protocols to assess core muscular endurance. These data suggest that 1.50 minutes in females and 1.77 minutes in males (50th percentile values) could be considered average duration of the plank exercise for this age group.
Recommended Citation
Brigham, Caroline E. and Chase, Kimberly A., "Fitness Norms for the Plank Exercise" (2014). Linfield University Student Symposium: A Celebration of Scholarship and Creative Achievement. Event. Submission 8.
https://digitalcommons.linfield.edu/symposium/2014/all/8
Fitness Norms for the Plank Exercise
Jereld R. Nicholson Library
PURPOSE: Adequate strength of core musculature is critical for optimal physical performance and postural control. Currently, standards for core musculature strength and stability have not been established. This study sought to determine normative fitness measurements of core musculature endurance using the plank exercise.
METHODS: 168 collegiate male and female participants (18-25 years of age) were recruited. Participants were instructed in plank positioning; elbows bent at 90° directly below the shoulders, hands unclasped, feet placed hip width apart with ankles at 90° and pelvis tilted in the neutral position. After a 5-minute warm-up, participants were told to maintain the plank position as long as possible until complete fatigue was reached. The test was terminated if proper form was broken. The total time held in proper plank position was recorded.
RESULTS: The mean time held in the plank position was 96.25 + 43.16 and 116.58 + 65.49 seconds for females and males, respectively. For females, quartiles showed that the 25th percentile was 63 seconds, the 50th percentile was 90 seconds, while the 75th percentile was 121 seconds. Quartiles for males were 77seconds, 106 seconds and 128.5 seconds for the 25th, 50th and 75th percentiles, respectively.
CONCLUSION: This study provides normative values for the plank exercise that can be added to current fitness appraisal protocols to assess core muscular endurance. These data suggest that 1.50 minutes in females and 1.77 minutes in males (50th percentile values) could be considered average duration of the plank exercise for this age group.
