Why? Because your abs, obliques, and lower back muscles, along with your glutes, are meant to function as a unit, says Men's Health fitness director Ebenezer Samuel, C.S.C.S . And whenever possible, ...

Your core is an integral part of daily functions and your athletic performance—it’s used every time you sneeze, cough, have a bowel movement, pick things up, or do something more obvious… like sprint.

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Jakob Roze, CSCS, is a health writer and high-end personal trainer. He is the founder and CEO of RozeFit, a high-end concierge personal training practice and online blog. Side planks trains your ...