The Ab Roller promises you a lean, sculpted midsection and torso, in return for the $30 purchase price -- as of November 2010 -- and a few minutes of your time every day. Although you can do a perfectly good ab workout without the Ab Roller, it does offer a few potential benefits -- if you use it. But it takes regular, continuing effort to see results, with or without the Ab Roller.
Description
The Ab Roller resembles two U-shaped bars joined at each end by horizontal bars. One side of the frame is curved, so that the transition from one "U" to horizontal bar to the next "U" is seamless. This side faces up. The non-curved side, with a straight bar joining the ends of the "U"s at right angles, has a padded headrest.
Ab Roller vs. Ab Roller Evolution
The Ab Roller Evolution has replaced the original Ab Roller. They both look essentially the same, but the Revolution has been constructed to flip upside down so that you can use it as push-up handles or dip bars. The Evolution also has small, vertical bars to either side of the headrest. You can place free weight plates on these bars to increase your workout intensity.
Significance -- or Lack Thereof
The Ab Roller -- and many pieces of exercise equipment like it -- promise to relieve the neck and back pain associated with doing crunches. But the truth is that most people experience neck and back pain during crunches because of poor technique, not because of any flaw inherent in the exercise. You can enjoy pain-free crunches by simply keeping your head and neck in neutral position throughout the exercise -- no special equipment necessary. If you can't resist the urge to tug at your neck, place both hands beside your ears instead of behind your head.
Results
The American Council on Exercise commissioned a 2001 study that evaluated the Ab Roller versus other types of fitness equipment and modified crunches. All exercises and equipment in the study were compared against the conventional floor crunch. The results indicated that the Ab Roller doesn't trigger significantly more activity in the rectus abdominus and obliques than conventional crunches.
Considerations
You should always work push-pull muscle pairings together. But although the Ab Roller Evolution offers an effective workout for your chest, arms, shoulders and core, it neglects your back. The ability to add extra weight is a useful feature, but you could do this just as easily, without purchasing any extra equipment, by holding a weight plate against your chest as you do crunches.
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