The Best Ab Exercise Machines

If you invested in every newfangled piece of abdominal equipment to hit the market, you'd likely run through your life savings. The truth is, you don't have to invest a lot of money in equipment in order to improve your abdominal strength and definition. In fact, the American Council on Exercise suggests avoiding infomercial products and equipment designated specifically for abdominal routines. Sticking to equipment that's been backed by legitimate research is the best way to work your abs effectively.

Captain's Chair

The Captain's Chair, also known as the Roman chair or hanging ab chair, is a staple at most gyms and fitness centers. This elevated ab machine looks like a chair without a seat. You lean against the backrest and place your forearms on the arm rests, then allow your legs to hang suspended over the floor. From this position you can perform several abdominal exercises by drawing your legs up toward your torso. When compared to 12 other pieces of ab equipment in a 2001 study by the American Council on Exercise, the Captain's Chair saw the highest level of oblique activation and the second highest level of activation in the rectus abdominus compared to all of the other equipment. If your upper body strength is sufficient to hold you up on the chair, this piece of equipment qualifies as one of the best abdominal equipment options.

Stability Ball

Stability balls can be used for a variety of abdominal exercises including sit-ups, crunches, reverse crunches, stability ball pikes and stability ball planks. The variety offered by the stability ball makes it one of the best options for home- or gym-based abdominal routines. Additionally, the American Council on Exercise found that the stability ball crunch ranked near the top of its study in terms of targeting the rectus abdominus muscles effectively.

Hanging Ab Straps

If you're looking for a home-based alternative the Captain's Chair, you might want to invest in abdominal straps. You can attach these straps to a sturdy bar or door-frame fixture, then you place your upper arms through the loop of the strap. You can lift your feet off the floor with your body weight supported by your arms resting in the straps. From this position you can perform many abdominal exercises to target your rectus abdominus, obliques and hip flexors. According to a 2006 study published in the journal Physical Therapy, the hanging knee-up performed with ab straps was one of the most effective exercises for the abdominals and surrounding musculature.

Choosing Ab Machines or Equipment

Most ab machines will target your abdominals in a similar fashion to exercises performed without equipment or machines. If you have a specific piece of equipment that you enjoy using, don't feel that you need to give it up in favor of other exercises. The most important thing to consider when choosing abdominal machines is to choose a piece of equipment that you will feel comfortable with and enjoy using regularly.