Toning your midsection can be tricky with all the various contraptions offered at the gym. Learn how two of the most popular pieces of equipment can help you achieve your optimum workout and watch the effect it has on your abs.
Concept
An incline board is an elevated bench with a pad to place your feet under. The incline board can be used for sit-ups, by resting your back on the bench, anchoring your feet and coming up in a crunch position. It uses gravity to increase the work on your abs and ultimately tone your midsection.
A power tower is also known as a captain's chair. You stand in the tower with your back supported on the back rest, forearms on the arm rests, and hold the handles. From this position, you simply bring your legs in. It also uses gravity to tone your abs.
Variations
Using the incline board in the basic crunch position, you can increase the intensity of the workout by adding weight and varying the position of the weight. For instance, you could hold the weight plate in front of you and crunch up, place the weight on your chest, or twist from side to side holding the plate. The incline board can be used for reverse crunches by changing your position. You hold on to the foot pads and rest your feet where your head typically rests in the traditional crunch position. You can then simply bend your knees and lift your hips off the bench. You can also do straight leg raises in this position.
With the power tower, you can do straight leg raises as well. This can be done with a weight between your feet to increase difficulty. Side exercises are performed by standing in the tower and bringing your knees up on the right and then the left side. You can also do both knees in and straight leg raises from the back side of the tower. This is a hanging leg raise and will work not only your core but also your upper body.
Benefits
Both pieces of equipment help build your core strength using gravity. The incline board focuses more on traditional crunches. You can take basic ground exercises and increase the difficulty by performing them on an incline. The power tower engages your legs and lower abs more. It can also be used for upper-body exercises, such as pull-ups and dips.
Drawbacks
The incline board places strain on the lower back. If you have any ankle injuries, placing your feet under the incline pads can be uncomfortable. The power tower places strain on your shoulders and upper body when you hold your weight up to complete the exercise. This can be difficult if you have shoulder injuries. It also requires some upper body strength and is a more advanced exercise. This machine is also commonly used incorrectly. Without the proper core strength, people tend to swing their legs to complete the repetitions. This does not, however, effectively work the abs.
Considerations
Both machines work the abs. The power tower focuses more on lower abs, while the incline can be used for upper and lower abs. Both require core strength to execute the exercises. The incline board is sometimes adjustable, so you can decrease the level of incline if you are new to the exercise.
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