58-Year-Old DonnaJean Wilde's Plank Record: 4 Benefits For Women 50+

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For four hours, 30 minutes and 11 seconds, DonnaJean Wilde held the same position: forearms and toes on the floor, body in one straight line. When she finally came down, the 58-year-old grandmother from Alberta, Canada, had set the Guinness World Record for the longest abdominal plank held by a woman.

Photo Credit: Instagram: @ donnajeanwilde

Her record, set on 21 March 2024, is a feat of endurance. It also raises a practical question for the many women over 50 who see planks on every fitness list: what does the exercise actually do, and how should you start?

How DonnaJean Wilde Set The Plank Record At 58

Wilde broke the record at her former workplace, Magrath High School in Alberta, and finished ten minutes longer than the previous mark, set in 2019 by fellow Canadian Dana Glowacka. A Guinness adjudicator monitored her form throughout. The rules were strict: the plank was performed barefoot, fingers could not lock together, and any slip of the toes or sway of the back meant disqualification.

A mother of five and grandmother of 12, she said her grandchildren, who came to watch, kept her going. The preparation was intense. She planked for up to six hours a day in the build-up, and used the time to watch movies and study for her master's degree. Her journey began about a decade earlier, when a broken wrist kept her from running or lifting weights.

The hardest part came late. The first two hours felt easy, but her elbows hurt badly by the end. Wilde also lives with transverse myelitis, which affects feeling in her hands and arms, and her husband Randy has said that coping with daily pain helped her plank through discomfort. "I actually still can't believe it," she told Guinness.

She has since added a second Guinness record, for 1,575 push-ups in an hour. Her plank time is still listed as the women's record.

Her training is elite, though, and not a model for anyone else. The more useful question is what a far shorter plank can offer.

Plank Benefits For Women Over 50

The research below covers core training and isometric exercise (holding a position without moving) in general, not planks alone. A plank is a simple, equipment-free example of both.

Stronger Muscles As The Body Changes

Menopause brings a natural decline in oestrogen, which is linked to lower muscle mass, strength and bone density. A 2023 meta-analysis in BMC Women's Health found that exercise improved lean body mass, handgrip strength and knee extension strength in menopausal women, with resistance training three times a week for at least six weeks working best. A plank is not a full strength programme, but it is an accessible bodyweight move that can sit within one. nutrition-evidencedoaj

Better Balance And A Lower Risk Of Falls

A 2025 meta-analysis in Frontiers in Public Health found that core training was highly effective for improving balance in adults aged 60 and over, with the strongest effect on dynamic balance. The authors added that more rigorous trials are needed to confirm long-term benefits.

Support For A Troublesome Lower Back

A systematic review of 29 studies found that stabilisation exercises beat alternative treatments or no treatment for long-term pain and disability, but showed no significant difference compared with other forms of exercise. In short, core work helps, though it is not magic.

A Possible Lift For Blood Pressure

A large analysis in the British Journal of Sports Medicine pooled 270 trials with 15,827 participants and found isometric exercise, which includes planks, was the most effective mode for lowering blood pressure, with reductions of about 8 mmHg systolic and 4 mmHg diastolic. The wall squat showed the strongest effect on systolic pressure. Anyone with high blood pressure or a heart condition should check with a doctor before holding strenuous positions.

How To Start Planking After 50

• Start small. Wilde's own advice is to start small with any new exercise. Ten to 20 seconds is a reasonable first goal.
• Make it easier if needed. Plank with your hands on a wall, a counter or a sturdy bench, or with your knees down, until your form holds.
• Breathe steadily. Wilde used deep, controlled breathing to stay calm. Holding your breath is a common mistake.
• Stop if something hurts. Wrist, shoulder or lower-back pain means it is time to adjust or speak to a doctor or physiotherapist.

Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for general informational and educational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or a qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.