Upper-body Causes of Back Pain (and How to Fix Them)

Carrying kegs, lifting logs, picking up stones, flipping tires and pulling cars have been a staple of strongman competitions for years, but are these exercises safe or effective for the average person? More importantly can you—or should you—consider adding some of these challenging exercises to your fitness toolbox? Here’s what the research has to say about the efficacy of strongman-type exercises.

For the past several years, planks have been the undisputed go-to exercise for strengthening the core. Recently, however, a few voices have been quietly questioning whether fitness pros may be over-relying on it in core training or not properly integrating it into clients’ overall workout regimens. Here’s what the experts have to say about the merits—and drawbacks—of the almighty plank.