The rectus abdominis, commonly known as the "abs," is a muscle group on the surface of the abdomen that extends from the pelvis to the chest. People often concentrate on their abs in order to flatten their stomach and achieve a six-pack look. Several pieces of exercise equipment can aid in your efforts to tone your abs.
Ab Wheel
The ab wheel is an inexpensive piece of equipment that can challenge anyone from beginners to advanced athletes. For beginner use, grab the handles of the ab wheel and get on your knees. Extend your arms with the wheel on the ground, and slowly roll out as far as you can; then roll back. Advanced users can perform the exercise from a standing position. The tension your abs create during the exercise not only works the rectus abdominis, but the transverse abdominis and lower back as well.
Ab Roller
The Ab Roller is designed to aid you in performing crunches. It consists of a headrest on curved bars, with a handle overhead. Lie down on the ground and lean back on the headrest. Grab the handle with both hands, and slowly roll forward into a crunch position. With the latest model of the Ab Roller, you can add weight plates beside the headrest to make the exercise more challenging. It can also be flipped over and used for sit-ups and dips.
Stability Ball
A stability ball is a large rubber inflatable ball that you can use for various ab exercises. By sitting on the ball while performing crunches, you target your abs not only with the crunch motion, but also by forcing them to act as stabilizers to keep you balanced on the ball. According to MayoClinic.com, the more you inflate the ball, the more difficult the exercises become.
Ab Crunch Machine
An ab crunch machine might not be the best option for your home due to its size and expense, but if you have access to one at the gym, it can provide a constant challenge for all skill levels. Sit in the chair and place your arms on the pads. Hold onto the handles. Crunch forward, and slowly return. You can add a considerable amount of weight to this machine, meaning even bodybuilders and athletes can get a good workout. However, it's still useful even if you can only lift a single plate.
Member Comments