“I wanted to challenge myself to a three-minute plank at the end of my session today as a finisher,” says the PT I’m watching on TikTok. “I’ve not done a three-minute plank in the longest time, so to try and get me through it I thought, ‘Why don’t I film it?’”

I’m all for a challenge, but my immediate thought upon hearing this trainer psyching herself up to plank for 180 seconds was… why?

Planking, we know, is a supreme core exercise. The isometric hold is great for building core strength, improving posture and building balance and stability. To my knowledge, though, these benefits are usually attained in a short space of time. Research published last month found that two-minute isometric holds boasted overwhelmingly positive effects on heart health.

Planking for a longer time period definitely has the potential to increase the feeling of discomfort, as your muscles remain under tension. But is it possible there’s more of a positive outcome to be had by holding a extra-long plank? We asked the experts.

Is there any point in doing a 3-minute plank hold? PTs explain why planking for ages might not yield results