Plank Scorpion
oec:plank-scorpion
A dynamic bodyweight mobility and core exercise performed from a high plank by extending and rotating one leg across the body.
Generated by gemini-3.8-flash from the sources below. No person has checked this record. Don't rely on it for safety.
Also called: Scorpion Kick, Scorpion Plank, High Plank Scorpion
How to do it
Setup
- Start in a high plank position with your hands directly beneath your shoulders and fingers spread.
- Position your feet hip-width apart and establish a rigid line from your head to your heels by bracing your core.
Movement
- Lift one foot off the floor, flex the knee slightly, and lift the leg into hip extension behind you.
- Rotate your pelvis and swing the elevated leg across your body toward the opposite side, reaching the toes toward the floor.
- Pivot onto the outer edge of your stationary foot while pressing firmly through both hands to keep your chest facing the floor.
- Smoothly reverse the rotation, return your foot to the starting plank position, and repeat on the opposite side.
Breathing
Exhale as you rotate and reach the leg across your body; inhale as you return to the neutral plank position.
Cues
- Keep both palms glued to the floor
- Rotate through the hips, not the shoulders
- Reach long and controlled with the back foot
Common faults
- Lifting one hand off the floor as the torso rotates.
- Actively push through both hands and keep the chest facing the ground to isolate rotation to the hips and spine.
- Rushing the movement with momentum rather than controlled muscular effort.
- Move deliberately and pause briefly at the end range of rotation before returning to the plank.
Safety
- Do not force end-range hip or lumbar extension if you experience pinching or discomfort in the lower back.
Muscles
Joints
- Hip: Extension, External rotation
- Lumbar spine: Rotation, Isometric stabilization
- Thoracic spine: Rotation
- Shoulder: Isometric stabilization
- Shoulder blade: Protraction
Details
- Movement
- Rotation, Anti-extension
- Modality
- Calisthenics, Mobility
- Mechanics
- compound
- Force
- mixed
- Laterality
- alternating
- Kinetic chain
- closed
- Level
- intermediate
- Equipment
- None
- Record
- Repetitions
- Load
- bodyweight
Related
- progression of Plank with Leg Lift
- variation of Plank with Leg Lift
Sources
- wger: Scorpion Kick, by lxmx (CC-BY-SA-4.0)
This record: CC-BY-SA-4.0.