In the May/June 2001 issue of its FitnessMatters journal, the American Council on Exercise, a non-profit fitness watchdog group, published an article about the effectiveness of several popular abdominal exercises. The article stated that the Ab Roller "was proven to be virtually no more effective than the traditional crunch." Regardless, the Ab Roller is still a very popular ab exercise tool. The metal frame supports your head and neck while you perform a crunch. Under the frame is a coil that springs against the floor, providing you with an initial boost to start each crunch.
Step 1
Place the Ab Roller on the floor or an exercise mat. The spring assembly should touch the ground behind your head.
Step 2
Position your body so your head rests comfortably on the head pad, your back is against the floor, and your knees are bent with your feet flat on the floor.
Step 3
Take a light grip on the padded handles above you. Do not grip too hard. You don't want to push with your hands as you perform the exercise.
Step 4
Crunch up by curling your waist toward your pelvic bone. Keep your low back pushed into the ground. The Ab Roller will curl with your body as your shoulder blades lift off the floor.
Step 5
Hold the crunch position for a count before you slowly lower back down to the starting position.
Tips and Warnings
- Remove the pro assist spring as your abdominal muscles become stronger. The spring assists you in crunching up, making the exercise easier.
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