Exercise guide
Elevated Plank Walkout With A Chair
- Intermediate
- Compound
- Timed hold
- Shoulders
- Waist
This dynamic core exercise enhances shoulder stability and abdominal tension by transitioning between different planes of elevation. It challenges the obliques and serratus anterior to maintain a neutral spine while shifting weight between the chair and the floor.
Reviewed by the Crucible team · Updated June 2026
Muscles worked
Setup
- Stand facing a sturdy chair or bench with your feet hip-width apart.
- Place your hands firmly on the edge of the chair seat, spaced shoulder-width apart.
- Step your feet back until your body forms a straight line from head to heels in an elevated plank position.
How to do it
- Inhale and brace your core, then carefully move one hand from the chair down to the floor directly below your shoulder.
- Follow with the other hand so you are in a standard floor plank, keeping your hips as level as possible during the transition.
- Exhale as you reverse the movement, placing your lead hand back onto the chair followed by the trailing hand.
- Alternate the leading hand with each repetition to ensure balanced development across the shoulders and obliques.
Form checklist
- Minimize hip rocking by squeezing your glutes and quads throughout the walkout.
- Keep your neck neutral by looking at a spot slightly ahead of your hands.
- Ensure your lower back does not sag; maintain a slight posterior pelvic tilt.
- Stack your wrists directly under your shoulders when your hands are on the floor.
Pro tips
- Imagine a glass of water resting on your lower back; your goal is to transition without spilling a drop.
- Actively push away from the chair or floor to engage the serratus anterior and stabilize the shoulder blades.
Make it harder
- Add a push-up when both hands reach the floor before walking back up to the chair.
- Slow the tempo to a 3-second descent and 3-second ascent to increase time under tension.
Frequently asked
- What muscles does the elevated plank walkout with a chair work?
- The elevated plank walkout with a chair primarily targets the abs, deltoids, obliques, and pectorals, and also works the erector spinae and serratus anterior as secondary muscles.
- What equipment do you need for the elevated plank walkout with a chair?
- The elevated plank walkout with a chair requires no equipment — just your body weight.
- Is the elevated plank walkout with a chair good for beginners?
- The elevated plank walkout with a chair is rated intermediate. Build a base with simpler variations first, then progress to it with light load and strict form.
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