Is it better to do a plank in the push up position, or with your arms bent and the weight on your forearms or is there no difference?

I think that the only thing that changes when you on your elbows versus when you're on your hands is how many of your ab muscles are working...

If going from the front plank position to a side plank position (then back, then to the other side) I find this much easier to do on my hands (push-up position). Actually, I've never been in a class where we did the full shift in the elbows position (though I've tried it on my own). But I have been in classes where we did the plank to the side in the elbow position and also where we did one to the front on the elbows, then sort of "rocked" from side to side. I'm not sure if one is "better" than the other. It feels to me like they each work the muscles in slightly different ways.

planks from the hands are generally easier, because you are at a greater incline, so less force from gravity (compared to the forearm where you are parallel with the ground so greater vertical force pushing down on you). However, if you have weak or unstable shoulders, planking from the hands will probably be more challenging.

Theresa wrote:

I think that the only thing that changes when you on your elbows versus when you're on your hands is how many of your ab muscles are working...

I think that is what is being asked, which works more muscles and is therefore better?

^The end of her sentence was "or is there no difference?", and my point was that really, there's no difference. I feel plank on my elbows more in my middle abs, while I feel plank on my toes lower. They're all working the abs. It's all the same vehicle...

I find on the forearms/elbows to be easier. But only because my wrist are messed up - it hurts too bad to do a plank on my hands, it also hurts my wrist to do more than 6 push ups.

I'm with Theresa. The difference between them is pretty minute.

If you're doing it on a hard surface you may prefer the push up version. Digging elbows into a hard wood floor is not very pleasant!

I do them from my forearms. In pushup position I get distracted by the pain in my wrists and hands so don't hold them as long. So for me personally, I find firearms plank to be most effective

The best one would be the one that you can hold with proper form so that you are working the correct muscle groups.

I find in general that more clients have difficulty with exercises in a lower plank position on their forearms and the stronger ones can hold this better, but I agree with everyone else...in the way your core is actually benefiting I don't think it matters.