Planks make sense in the early stages of injury rehab. They're also great for helping entry-level folks build awareness of optimal body alignment in a static position. However, the plank becomes less useful when it's continually done without progressing to more dynamic and challenging exercises.
That said, the plank is essentially a push-up without the arm action. So, if you're able to perform 15 push-ups at a 1:1 tempo (one second up and one second down), you've just done a 30-second plank. In other words, if you're able to do push-ups with good spinal alignment, basic planks are redundant.
If that describes you, it's time stop boring yourself with basic planks and progress to more advanced plank versions, like the cross-body plank.
related posts
In my last article, Pendulum Training, I introduced the basic principles behind a new way to plan your workouts. This new way of thinking is based on a frequent pre-planned variation of training objectives and means.
Now it's time to take a closer look at the smallest functional unit of training parameters: the repetition. If you build your repetition quality, you'll reap more gains from your workouts. That's definitely a good thing!
Here's a challenging new way to do dips that'll help you move like a gymnast.
High intensity vs. volume training. Olympic lifting vs. powerlifting. High intensity cardio vs. low intensity cardio. The list of debates and disputes in this field goes on and on, and perhaps the most disputed area is abdominal training.