How Does an Ab Roller Work?

The Ab Roller is a piece of exercise equipment that purportedly helps users get a ripped stomach by building lean muscle tissue in the abdominals. It is one of many ab machines that is advertised in the media. To determine the efficacy of this product, you have to consider how muscles grow and what this product actually does.

Features

The Ab Roller was originally designed for building stomach muscles, but the design has been altered so that you can also use it to tone your upper body muscles. In the ab roller position you lie on your back, place your arms on the appropriate grips and do assisted crunches. There is a pad for your neck to avoid any possible strain and discomfort. When you flip the Ab Roller over you can perform push ups and dips for your upper body.

Benefits

The three exercises that you can perform on the Ab Roller are beneficial for sculpting your muscles. Performing sit ups on the Ab Roller can help you maintain proper form that could normally be lost when performing crunches or situ ps on your own. There is also a place for you to add weights to the machine so that you can further challenge yourself as you gain strength. It is only slightly wider than your body width, which makes it easy to store because it does not take up a lot of space in your home.

Disadvantages

The Ab Roller is limited in how far you can progress your muscle strength. If you use the device consistently, you may find that you reach a level of strength that the Ab Roller cannot match. It is also possible to reach a plateau where you no longer see results because you are performing the same exercise over and over. Another downfall to this machine is the hand placement. By putting your arms on the top bar it is possible that your arms will do more of the work and your abs will not receive any benefit from your workout.

Potential

Using the Ab Roller may help you build strength in your abs, chest, shoulders, back and arms. The key to making this machine effective is to use it as part of a well-rounded strength training program. If you rely solely on the Ab Roller to transform your body, you will likely be disappointed. Your body experiences weight loss and strength gains when you try new exercises, use more weight and present new challenges to your muscles.

References

Article reviewed by Molly Solanki Last updated on: Apr 1, 2011

Must see: Photo Galleries

Member Comments