If you like “the Plank” as a core stabilizing exercise, then the “Front Plank Stair Walk” can be a great progression to take you to the next level. It is more dynamic and challenges your core in multiple plains of direction.
It is important to already have healthy shoulders and a relatively strong core to be able to do this exercise safely, since there is so much going on in this exercise movement errors can happen that may cause injuries.
However, day to day life is not lived in one stable predictable plain of movement. So, if you start from a strong foundation then this exercise can help to build strength and challenge your body in a more functional way, similar to the loads that you will experience during sport and heavy manual work. This kind of training is vital to prepare your body as fully as possible for whatever an active fun lifestyle might throw at you.
To perform the exercise:
Start in a push-up position then while keeping your torso absolutely stiff like a plank drop your right elbow and forearm down on the ground.
Then drop your left forearm and elbow down on the ground as well.
Then your right arm back to the ground so that your weight is resting on your hand again.
Finally put your weight back on your left hand as well so that you back to the original starting position.
The main aim throughout this exercise is to keep the torso stiff and minimize any sagging, rocking, or rolling. You can keep circling through these steps until you start to lose form. The focus should be on doing the exercise right rather than doing a large number of rounds.