Struggling to extend your plank hold? This research-backed psychological trick, drawn from a study of Pilates enthusiasts, can help you last longer starting today.
Group Pressure
Group pressure emerges as the secret weapon for enduring longer planks, based on a survey of 68 regular visitors to a Pilates studio.
The Experiment
Two groups were tasked with holding the plank as long as possible, twice, with a three-minute rest between attempts. During the break, one group was told the other had held it longer; the other group heard nothing.
Hold Longer
The informed group extended their plank by 5% on the second try compared to the first. The uninformed group, however, shortened theirs by 18%.
