While ab exercises like crunches and regular planks target the muscles in the front of your core, a side plank works your obliques, the muscles that run along the side of your core. Keeping your obliques strong can make it easier to rotate and bend your trunk.

Side planks are an effective compound core strengthening exercise that targets the hips, abs, obliques, glutes, shoulders, and legs to improve balance and stability throughout the body. Unlike many other ab exercises, like crunches and situps, side planks place minimal stress on the lower back.

The side plank is an excellent exercise for strengthening the oblique abdominal muscles, which don't get worked as much during ab exercises like crunches. You will hold your body on its side in a straight position supported only by one arm and the side of one foot. Strong obliques are useful as core stabilizers.

Much like the traditional plank, the side plank helps teach you how to hold your core under tension isometrically. This isometric training exercise is a key component in maintaining good form and posture under heavy loads. By working one side at a time, the side plank helps you ensure that your core will be strong from multiple angles.

Side planks are a core exercise that works the obliques, reduces low back pain and helps you lose inche from your waist.