Best Home Exercise Equipment for Abs

by Melanie Nozzolillo

Choosing home exercise equipment can be difficult. There are many choices on the market--some simple and inexpensive, others that promise amazing results but have a high cost. According to a study sponsored by the American Council on Exercise and done at the Biomechanics Lab at San Diego State University, the five most effective ab exercises are the bicycle maneuver; captain's chair, crunches done on an exercise ball, vertical leg crunch and reverse crunch. Four of these can be done with simple, inexpensive home equipment.
Exercise Ball

Inexpensive, versatile and useful, the exercise ball is the best piece of equipment you can purchase. Flat abs come from several muscles being toned--the rectus abdominis, the internal obliques and the external obliques. An exercise ball requires you to contract all of these muscles in order to maintain balance. It also forces you to use only your abdominal muscles rather than using muscles in the legs or other areas, eliminating the chances of accidental "cheating" during your crunches. The ball lets you easily focus on specific muscle groups. Turning on your side works the muscles in your waist--the obliques and transverse abdominis. Bringing your knees together works your lower abs more.

Exercise or Yoga Mat

An exercise or yoga mat is another great piece of equipment. Like an exercise ball, the mat allows for customizable workouts from beginner to advanced levels. Mats give you more traction and make crunches, reverse crunches, Pilates, planks, twists and weight training more comfortable. Each of these ab exercises trains several muscles in your core at the same time. For example, Romanian twists are done on a mat by holding your torso and legs up in a "V" position, and twisting your upper body from side to side while holding yourself steady by contracting your lower abs. This works all the major ab muscles while increasing balance and coordination.
Foam Roller

A more advanced piece of equipment item for great abs is a foam roller. A long solid roller, you place it under your spine the long way--from your head to your tail. Then you balance while you do ab exercises. Because you are working to keep the roller from moving to side to side, you make your ab muscles work in coordination, but in a way that is more challenging than the exercise ball. Reverse crunches on a foam roller can be especially effective.

Exercise Ball