Best equipment for abs?

[Times Roman]

I'm thinking I'm going to upgrade some equipment, ran across this, and was wondering if this is the best type for abs? If it is not, open to suggestions.
Please advise
Roman

[Times Roman]

bump

[Damienm05]

I'd invest in an adjustable decline bench instead. Sit-ups on full decline, especially if you can get a partner to toss you a medicine ball, is unmatched IMO. I'm not big on training abs directly but these have always yielded the best burn and most resistance. That or a set-up to do leg lifts with, while trying to hold your legs straight out as long as possible. I think machines, like the one you've posted above, are weak.

[Times Roman]

I'd invest in an adjustable decline bench instead. Sit-ups on full decline, especially if you can get a partner to toss you a medicine ball, is unmatched IMO. I'm not big on training abs directly but these have always yielded the best burn and most resistance. That or a set-up to do leg lifts with, while trying to hold your legs straight out as long as possible. I think machines, like the one you've posted above, are weak.

No workout partner, unfortunately. Do you mean a piece of equipment like this? Just hold it there? Or do up/down reps?

[bigboomer]

Times i have a decline bench like this for abs, i love it..I picked it up a few months back..The one in the above picture is nice also..If you got the money buy both!

[Damienm05]

No workout partner, unfortunately. Do you mean a piece of equipment like this? Just hold it there? Or do up/down reps?

Yup. And you can do dips with it too of course. I go up and down but I try to hold my legs straight out at the peak for as long as possible. Nothing quite as intense. You'll be lucky to get 8-12 holding for 3-5 seconds.

[Times Roman]

Times i have a decline bench like this for abs, i love it..I picked it up a few months back..The one in the above picture is nice also..If you got the money buy both!

once back to work, the constraint is NOT money, but space! There is a couple of things I can get rid of, but my one living room is filling up and underneath my patio cover is filling up (filled up) as well.

[HawaiianPride.]

A lot of your "conventional" ab exercises cause your hip flexors to become tight, thus lower cross body syndrome occurs. This process will eventually weaken the abs over time. If and when you do train abs, stick with dynamics in the big lifts, sprints, ball static supine bridges, or any plank type movement.

[Times Roman]

A lot of your "conventional" ab exercises cause your hip flexors to become tight, thus lower cross body syndrome occurs. This process will eventually weaken the abs over time. If and when you do train abs, stick with dynamics in the big lifts, sprints, ball static supine bridges, or any plank type movement.

My abs are doing pretty good. I have a machine that allows cable crunchies, with an adjustable incline and adjustable resistance. I do about 3 sets of 30, 2x a week. I did a real stupid thing last new years.... got real drunk and was letting some of my bro's punch me in the gut. (I told you it was a real stupid thing). Anyways, my abs held out great! Funny thing though. When I woke up, I had all these weird fist size bruises on my stomach.

But I do want to step up in intensity, as the cable crunchies concentrate on the upper abs, and I see this machine as exercising the abs more completely, and you can add as much weight as you can handle.

[goodlifting]

i have to agree with HP. I was doing ab work religiously for years until i stopped about last year. my abs have not changed. i also did develop really tight hip flexors that i struggle with every once in a while now.

the big movements are what really develop all of your core muscles including your low back.

if you're getting older or are dealing with injuries i still think it's a good idea to EASE into the big movements. the muscle and strength development from these will help with that back pain.

i would only abs maybe to prep for a show.

[Times Roman]

Yup. And you can do dips with it too of course. I go up and down but I try to hold my legs straight out at the peak for as long as possible. Nothing quite as intense. You'll be lucky to get 8-12 holding for 3-5 seconds.

so you hold your legs straight out for each rep, or last rep of each set? and then hold for as long as possible?

[ObviousDecoy]

Definitely the best equipment for abs.

[Times Roman]

Definitely the best equipment for abs.

cute

[serratus]

the best equipment it s genetics, bad genetix can t b repair

[xxxl83]

Stick to functional ab work as suggested by HP and GL,
Hp is also right on with the hip flexor issue as well.

It's almost laughable to watch people training their hip flexors, thinking they are hitting their "lower abs".

xxxl83

[HawaiianPride.]

To furthermore extend the ideas on issues regarding your "conventional ab workouts" I'll go into detail if people may be confused from BR's post.

"Here's whats occuring when you do bicycles, leg raises, and crunches in the conventional form.

The hip flexors (illiac, psoas, and rectus femoris (in leg raises)) contract and shorten to raise the hips or flex the spine. While this is occuring, the abdominals are stabilizing, just as they do during a squat or deadlift, however the hip flexors are shortening.



However, most people already have over active hip flexors , and underactive glutes and weak spinal erectors. As a result, over time the pelvis deviates from normal posture into anterior pelvic tilt. Thus, hipflexors become excessively tight, or over active (constantly shortened).



Now, as a result of the anterior pelvic tilt, the abdominals are constantly lenghtened. In time, this constant lengthening beyond resting position actually weakens the abdominal muscles (much like keeping a rubber band partially stretched will weaken the reactive properties of the band).

The hamstrings suffer the same problem, and become extended weakening the hamstrings. As a consequence, many athletes with APT will suffer hamstring injuries at a greater incidence.

So, continuing to perform these "abdominal" exercises only pulls the pelvis further out of neutral, and the exercise them selves become even more hip flexor dominated due to the APT. Thus, any abdominal exercise should be done with a neutral pelvis, such as planks. And this is why I prescribe band resistance crunches done in the supine bridge position - the glutes are activated, the pelvis is neutral, and the abdominals do the majority of the work. The exercise is quite a bit more difficult, the ROM is very short (about 3-4 inches max) and the first time a client does a set, they usually are only able to get about 5-8 before the hip flexors take over and the movement is ceased. -Br"

[xxxl83]

Yup all that plus combined with people sitting all day at the computer, work etc..... adds to the problem.
That is also why it is important to push your hips through on squats, deads, pull throughs.
If you are experiencing pelvic tilt issues belt squats have proven very helpful, along with dynamic or pnf stretching. Btw static stretching is a waste of time and potentially dangerous. (although this could be a seperate thread on it's own i'm just lazy) lol

RT sorry for being slightly off topic but it does relate.

xxxl83

[Times Roman]

Scoliosis, arthritas, a little sway back, and some good old fashioned barbs on the ends of my spine. Discs are 100% fantastic. Musculature is good. Nothing functionally wrong, just all this pain. First started noticing it 28 years ago after a really long run. Been very slowly getting worse. Sitting at a desk all day doesn't help.

I have an appointment to see a specialist Aug 24. My primary, get this... told me taking alleve twice a day is bad, and that I should consider switching to vicodin???? He said, yes, it is an addictive drug, but if I begin to feel dependent, I can kick over a weekend and be good to go by monday. I said no thanks, and that's when I asked if I could get a second opinion.

Ultimately, I want them to go in there and clean up all the barbs, but as always, I will need to come up with a convincing story.....

He did offer cortisone. I declined. Not a root cause cure. He said so is my alleve.

Am I correct to decliine the cortisone? I feel it is probably just another crutch...

[xxxl83]

Get a new doctor. with the opiate addictions sweeping across this country I beg of you to not let this asshole put you on pain killers if you haven't first exhausted all other options. (restoration techniques, massage, rest, contrast showers, proper stretching, physical therapy etc..)

I myself have had 4 knee surgeries and arthritis since i was 16 (first knee op at 14, am now in my mid to late 30's) the only thing that has ever helped is staying active! by staying active and squatting I'm able to keep my bone surfaces clean and mobile. Many people get injured and lay off and that only makes things progressively worse over time. If you have an issue and avoid it it'll never get better on it's own. problems need to be addressed and corrected.

Ex. many people don't train their lower backs (spinal erectors) cause nobody notices them at the beach, club, whatever. they're not a "pretty muscle" so between lack of training and people breaking exercise form injury is sure to occur. it always amazes me how alot of people with bad backs continually side step training their backs and keep them weak which inevitably leads to more injury and problem.
To make it worse these half as dr.s just take the easy route and write you a script for pain meds, god forbid they do their jobs and diagnose and treat the issue correctly!

sorry for the rant but somethings just get me fired up. lol

xxxl83

[Myalansky]

Buying equipment for abs?

[Twist]

Sounds like an NASM textbook.

[Archangel.]

I'm a firm believer that you don't need any equipment to develop a good set of abs, there are so many great exercises you can do that don't require anything but yourself.

[Times Roman]

Get a new doctor. with the opiate addictions sweeping across this country I beg of you to not let this asshole put you on pain killers if you haven't first exhausted all other options. (restoration techniques, massage, rest, contrast showers, proper stretching, physical therapy etc..)

I myself have had 4 knee surgeries and arthritis since i was 16 (first knee op at 14, am now in my mid to late 30's) the only thing that has ever helped is staying active! by staying active and squatting I'm able to keep my bone surfaces clean and mobile. Many people get injured and lay off and that only makes things progressively worse over time. If you have an issue and avoid it it'll never get better on it's own. problems need to be addressed and corrected.

Ex. many people don't train their lower backs (spinal erectors) cause nobody notices them at the beach, club, whatever. they're not a "pretty muscle" so between lack of training and people breaking exercise form injury is sure to occur. it always amazes me how alot of people with bad backs continually side step training their backs and keep them weak which inevitably leads to more injury and problem.
To make it worse these half as dr.s just take the easy route and write you a script for pain meds, god forbid they do their jobs and diagnose and treat the issue correctly!

sorry for the rant but somethings just get me fired up. lol

xxxl83

Nope. Not into crutches. I'd rather have some pain than go down the narco path.