The abdominals are some of the most noticeable muscles in our bodies because they are front and center. Too much fat in this area has been linked to heart attacks and stroke, and our society prefers the strong abdominal look on the beach. Having a great set of abs also helps your posture, helps to keep your back strong and your waist more defined.
The Best Machine
A study sponsored by the American Council of Exercise at the Biomechanics Lab at San Diego State University found that the best ab machine is not expensive and not hard to put together or move around. As a matter of fact, it's with you right now. It's your own body. Resistance exercises, yoga and the dreaded crunch are mainstays of the gym for a reason.
The Best Prop
Researchers recruited 30 men and women and put them through a battery of exercises targeting the midsection, then measured muscle tension and output. Crunches on an exercise ball were found to be the best overall because they put less strain on other muscles, especially the back. Other effective exercises were the "bicycle maneuver'' and the "captain's chair.''
Machines
The study was not funded by equipment manufacturers, but researchers included two ab machines, the Torso Track and the Ab Roller. The Torso Track was marginally more effective than the crunch. The Ab Roller was found to be no better, and the AB Rocker was found to be up to 80 percent less effective. Consumer Reports also recently tested ab machines -- the Ab Rocket, the Rock-N-Go Exerciser and the Red Exerciser DX, and none beat exercises done on a mat.
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