Core · Bodyweight
Straight Arm Side Plank
How to do the straight arm side plank, the muscles it works, and the mistakes to avoid. Pulled straight from the Kovo app's exercise library.
- Equipment
- Bodyweight
- Difficulty
- Beginner
- Logged as
- time
- Movement
- Isometric
- Mechanic
- Isolation
How to do it
Lie on one side and prop yourself up on a straight arm, hand flat under your shoulder. Stack your feet and lift your hips until your body forms a straight line. Hold, keeping your supporting shoulder packed and your core tight.
- 1Stack your hand under your shoulder and lift your hips into a straight
- 2line; feel your obliques and glutes hold
- 3Push the floor away to keep your supporting shoulder stable
- 4Breathe steadily and keep your body from rotating forward or back
Common mistakes
- Don't let your hips sag toward the floor
- Avoid locking out and hanging on a soft shoulder; stay active
- Don't hold your breath or let your torso twist
Muscles worked
The straight arm side plank mainly works the obliques, with the upper abs, lower abs, glutes, and side delts assisting.
- ObliquesPrimary
- Upper AbsSupport
- Lower AbsSupport
- GlutesSupport
- Side DeltsSupport
- ForearmsMinor
- LatsMinor
- Front DeltsMinor
Kovo programs the straight arm side plank for you and tracks it every session.
We build your whole program, drop the right lifts into each workout, and adjust your weights as you get stronger. Free on iOS and Android.
More abs & core exercises
- How to do the ab wheel rollout
- How to do the ankle tap plank
- How to do the ankle taps
- How to do the resistance band dead bugs
- How to do the resistance band pallof press
- How to do the rollout
Last reviewed June 2026.