Using the right equipment like barbells, balance boards, and even resistance bands is indeed the best way of achieving the kind of body you desire. And this post talks about various other top machines that help you get those well-toned abs! Want to check them out? Read on!
Ab Exercise Equipments – Top 22
1. Sit Up Benches
Abs bench is the most common and frequently used abs exercise equipment. It is available in almost all gyms or fitness centers as the bench can be used for a variety of exercises. They are useful for both beginners or advanced trainees. The ab bench is also known as an adjustable sit-up machine, as you can adjust (increase or decrease) the angle of the bench. A steep angle adds more resistance and hence, is harder to work on. Likewise, a wider angle is easier to do and more appropriate for beginners. These adjustable benches assist in strengthening the core muscles.
2. Abs Swing
The Abs Swing is one of those machines that have constantly been disputed about. Does it work or is it just another exercise machine that you should write off? Any kind of abs fitness equipment, when combined with fat-burning exercises and a proper diet will show results. The abs swing has a pivot seat with handles on either side and is meant to work the lower and upper halves.
3. Captain’s Chair
The Captain’s Chair is an exercise machine with a suspended backrest and armrests on either side. Similar to the pull-up bar, you suspend your weight on the armrests, with your back firmly to the backrest and your feet off the floor.
4. Roman Chair
The Roman Chair is more commonly known as the hyperextension bench. It is great for hamstring, glute, core, and lower back strengthening exercises. It comes in many variations, but the most common one features a padded bench with leg support that offers stability to the lower body while you bend your upper body to perform the exercises.
- Find a stable position on the equipment with your legs firmly supported. 2. Cross your arms across your chest or place them at the back of your head. 3. Engage your core and exhale as you lower your torso, bending at the waist. 4. Inhale, keep your core engaged and lift your torso up to align with your lower body. Hold for a few seconds and repeat. Do about 10 repetitions to test how your ab muscles feel and continue as per what feels comfortable.
5. Foam Roller
The Foam Roller is a versatile core exercise equipment for abs. Although it was originally used to relieve muscle tightness and tension, it has been adapted as a strength-training tool. The foam roller is a total-body workout tool that helps in toning your key muscles like the arms, thighs, and abdomen. Because of its shape, it is used to strengthen the core muscles and improve balance. For your abdomen, you can perform the following exercise using a foam roller. Katherine, an ACE-certified personal trainer and blogger, shared that she found it difficult to perform a straddle split and used a foam roller to overcome this challenge. She states in her blog post, “I started stretching – laying on a 6-inch foam roller After practicing this regularly for a while, it actually became comfortable (i).” Once she was comfortable with it, she replaced the roller with a 3-inch half roller. She adds, “From there I was finally brave enough to go unsupported.”
6. Kettlebell
Kettlebells are weights that are used for weight training. With a handle on the top, they look like a cross between a dumbbell and a cannonball. One kettlebell exercise that specifically targets your abdominal muscles is the Kettlebell Windmill.
7. Ab Wheels
At a first glance, the Abs Wheel seems like a fairly simple machine to work on. However, there’s much more to it than what meets the eye. It looks like a small dumbbell on wheels that you can hold on to at each side. The wheel movement works on the abs and develops the lower back, making it one of the best oblique exercises to do at home. Moreover, the wheels are easy to use and store and can be taken anywhere.
8. Pull-Up/Chin-Up Bars
Did you know that a simple bar can be used to tone your abdomen muscles? You would think that using the pull-up bar will only build your upper body, arms and back. However, pull-up bars provide an intense routine that strengthens and builds your lower, upper and oblique muscles. When using a pull-up bar, one of the best abdominal exercises is the scissor-kick.
9. Exercise/Stability Ball
Although the Stability Ball is not exactly a “machine,” it is one of the most effective equipments that tone your midsection. The stability ball is a huge and inflatable rubber ball that is used for several purposes, ranging from strengthening core muscles and increasing balance to improve posture, physical therapy, and rehabilitation. Ball workouts can be used in many ways to train the full body and make daily exercising more enjoyable. Just like the stability ball, medicine balls also help in increasing core strength and correcting posture.
10. Bosu Balance Trainer
Just like the stability ball, the Bosu Balance Trainer (or Bosu Ball) looks like a stability ball, cut in half and placed on a platform. Both sides can be used for training. One of the most common and effective abs workout equipments on the Bosu ball is the plank.
11. Rowing Machine
The Rowing Machine is designed to replicate outdoor rowing with mechanical oars on either side, thereby making it an effective alternative to the traditional sport and aiding in core strength.
12. Adjustable Sit Up Machines
The best types of sit up benches are the adjustable ab benches – in which you can adjust the angle of the board, thus altering the resistance according to your workout needs. Besides sit ups, it can be used for a wide variety of ab exercises like crunches, leg raising, twists and so on.
13. Ab Chairs
Ab chairs are both comfortable and safe for anybody to use. Their main advantage over a bench is that they are structured in a way such that the back is protected. The ab chair helps to stimulate the crunch using a folding mechanism. Here, you need to use your abs to lift your legs when you use it. This motion results in the stimulation of the lower muscles. It is good for beginners as it does not need an existing strong core. Similar to ab chairs, resistance chairs can also be used for other core strengthening exercises.
14. Ab Gliders
An Ab glider is designed to make exercising a pleasure. Gliders have a special design which forces you to stimulate the crunch. The complete movement is controlled by the machine while training all the muscles. It also focuses on the shoulders and the back. As ab gliders are larger machines, you can use them for an entire body workout.
15. Ab Rollers
Ab rollers are a great way to stimulate the body’s upper muscles. Ab rollers are essential to developing the upper part of your abdominals. The best advantage of this tool is that it provides support to the neck and helps avoid strains. It is a good tool for women who do core exercises, especially if they are beginners.
16. Ab Slide
An Ab slide is a fairly inexpensive home fitness machine that helps get a flat stomach. It also assists in efficiently working the entire body. It is useful for both beginners and advanced trainers, and it can be used anywhere because of its small size. Due to the continuous resistance, an ab roller trains the midsection effectively.
17. Resistance Bands
The resistance band can be used in many ways to enhance common core exercises such as crunches, sit-ups and so on. As a core tool of, it helps to strengthen ab muscles and also supports the belly fat-burning process. You can do efficient resistance band exercises with it, and as resistance grows progressively, it improves the health, flexibility, and agility of the person. One alternative you can use in place of resistance bands is resistance tubes, in case there is an unavailability of bands.
18. Ab Power Wheel
The Ab power wheel is a powerful tool that works out the entire core. They are inexpensive and suitable for any fitness level. The Power Wheel comes with a foot pedal which lets you perform more types of exercises to work the midsection with upper body moves.
19. Power Tower Stations
Power towers are among the most complicated home gym machines that allow you to do many dynamic body weight exercises. With this kind of machine, you will be able to perform all bodyweight exercises such as push ups, pull ups, ab exercises and so on.
20. Ab Carver
The Ab Carver comes with a unique technology which aids in performing effective abdominal workouts. It has a strong spring inside, which serves to perform better. This also encourages performing the motion precisely to work your abdomen efficiently.
21. Ab Crunch Machine
The ab crunch machine supports the neck and gives a full range of motion. The resistance can be set and maximum abdominal contraction can be achieved which is important for effective core training, another reason why it is one of top favorites of bodyweight trainers. It helps you to strengthen your entire midsection efficiently.
22. Dumbbells
Dumbbells are also effective tools for ab training. First you spend time doing various body weight core training until you gain enough strength. Then try the ab exercises. Gradually increase the amount of weights you use. Are ab gliders effective? Yes, ab gliders are an excellent way to not only build abs but also improve your posture and balance. Are ab crunch machines bad for you? Overusing or wrongly using the ab crunch machine may lead to spinal injury. Do ab machines burn belly fat? No, ab crunch machines do not help burn belly fat. They may help strengthen your abdominal muscles. A healthy diet and cardiovascular exercises will help you burn belly fat. Do ab stimulators work? Yes, ab stimulators help strengthen abdominal muscles, and support and increase endurance. Get ready to sculpt your abs with this intense cable-only ab workout! Packed with effective exercises and expert tips to help you get defined abs fast, check out this video now.
