[Closed] Is there one exercise that does a good job at strengthening core?

I was always told the Plank was the best core excersise...

Wrecking a wall with a sledgehammer. Best core exercise I ever did.

Weeks of wrecking and rubble shovelling.

Ab roller or TRX/ring roll outs (similar exercise) IMHO. Planks and variations are great too.

Deadlifts.

You need to maintain balance between muscle groups, so strengthening your lower back will also require strengthening your stomach.

Dorsal raise / good mornings for lower back.

Plank / v-sit for stomach.

Furious masturbation.

I'm ripped. Do you even lift bro?

In reality you will actually have to do more than just one exercise.

You are made of lots of muscles, so do a variety of core strengthening exercises.

Trackstands at traffic lights, always

Having children. Lifting (heavy) babies in and out of cots, up and down stairs and giving older brothers piggy banks works wonders for my core strength, although I'm hardly rippling with a six pack. Holding the little one out at arms' length with a straight back is also a good one.

Is it for lower back pain? The dorsal raise mentioned above is a good'un that seems to work for most

x10 2 or 3 times a day

Dry humping stuff.

Actually the single exercise which had the best effect on my own (bad) back was deadbugs. The important bit is keeping you coccyx off the floor.

I would NOT be doing deadlifts or good mornings until you have confidence that the core is strong and your back isn't going to pop.

If you want to strengthen your core I would recommend pilates.

Crunches, yoga/pilates (various moves) and balance/indo boards

Dragon flags, but you will need to build up to them first with legs raises.

Ab rollouts

bicep curl?

As above, Pilates is excellent.

Or for all round strength, full range squats (either front or back)

Deadlifts +1.

Swim.

So question is...is there one exercise that strengthens overall core?

To summarise all the answers above into one.. No, there isn't one core exercise to rule them all

Find a couple you like and go with that. Or do a different one each day

There is no one core muscle..

http://breakingmuscle.com/mobility-recovery/do-you-know-what-your-core-really-is-and-what-it-does

It sounds really narky but if you've not got the motivation/inclination to do more than one exercise its unlikely you'll have it to carry on with it to the extent you'll get the benefits.

You can do a reasonable body weight set based around planks, crunches, leg raises, back lifts, lizard crawls, pistol squats, and Russian twists. If you've got access to weights then deadlifts, woodchops and kettlebell lifts are good.

Nobody said there was....

From footflaps' site;
http://breakingmuscle.com/kettlebells/forget-crunches-how-to-actually-strengthen-your-core

http://breakingmuscle.com/bodyweight/5-fundamental-core-and-abdominal-exercises-for-beginners

http://breakingmuscle.com/strength-conditioning/training-the-core-4-exercises-that-take-it-to-the-next-level

Plenty to go at there.

Overhead squats, deadlifts and overhead carrys work well for me.

Plank and Ab Crunches for me.

Then Crunchies.

As a man currently high on codeine and in tremendous amounts of lower back pain, I can attest to the following 4 step plan:

1) Do no exercises, develop a lax and flabby core.
2) Herniate disc doing something completely innocuous like getting into a car
3) Be prescribed codeine for the pain and consequently become as backed up as the Hudson during logging season*
4) Develop a ripped and toned core from all the straining you're going to be doing on the toilet 😳

*humerous imagery isn't my thing, that's the best I could come up with for 'hugely constipated'

Ab roller is a pretty good tool and for the money (around £10), it's worth having one if your going to use it.

I'd fully recommend doing squats and deadlifts to strength your core. They'll also strength the rest of your body too which will have many benefits.

You really shouldn't concentrate on one area for strengthing unless it is substantially weaker for some reason, as you'll create imbalances which will cause more greif than benefits.

Join a decent gym, even if you only go once a week to do a few full body movements such as the deadlift, squats, over head press, etc. avoid the machines and do as much exercise as possible standing up or unsupported.

Back squat and strict bodyweight pull up both enable maximum recruitment of muscles in the core.

You also get the benefit of training other parts of the body at the same time.

Any ab/lower back isolation exercise will be limited in the amount of intensity that you will be able to achieve whereas with a squat the intensity can be increased indefinitely (within reason) as the weight you lift increases.

Any exercise that promotes excessive thoracic flexion (sit up, crunch etc.) is not good for your back.

If you do want to do an isolation exercise then roll outs or hanging leg raises are best as the back remains in a neutral postion.

If you want to just do one exercise with the most amount of benefit then to a proper barbell back squat with good posture. Start light and build up and your core will become strong.

http://www.bikejames.com/strength/turkish-get-up-for-mountain-biking/

http://www.bikejames.com/strength/kettle-bell-swings-for-mountain-biking/

Swimming +1

Yoga

Turkish getups if you're only going to do one exercise.

Turkish getups. Interesting.

Cheers for the responses...I guess in my head I know there's no one solution..

@Mrhoppy - not taken as a narky comment - i agree with your point. I guess the issue is I do regular stretching routines plus spend time on the bike 3 x a week, so to put another routine in the week is pushing it...something has to give I guess..

@schrichvr6 - a friend swears by that turkish thing..you're only the second person i've heard mention it ever...

@Rorschach - you may have found the answer for me - swap some of my stretching routines into yoga sequences - i have the books and have done it in the past...it'll be a good positive compromise...hadn't thought of that solution..

Cheers all.

I would NOT be doing deadlifts or good mornings until you have confidence that the core is strong and your back isn't going to pop.

This x100. Nor bent-over rows.

Plank + variations are the best FWIW

Pilates +1billion. But find a good teacher and don't settle for wishy washy old lady stuff.

https://www.redbulletin.com/uk/en/sports/atherton-improve-your-riding

Turkish get ups are good, didn't know what the name was.

I try to do sit ups, but by the time I get on my back and ready I fall asleep 😳

TGU's are a lot harder than they look!