Ab Slide Research
When listening to the claims made about the machines advertised in television infomercials, one should be aware that very few of these claims have been backed by respectable research. By respectable, we mean that the study was conducted by a neutral and professional group of credentialed researchers, who were not being paid by the manufacturing company. However, the Ab Slide is one of the few exceptions to the rule.
The Ab Slide Study
In November of 2008, the Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research published an article about the Ab Slide. The article cited a study that was performed at the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine in Rochester, Minnesota. The researchers wanted to compare the effectiveness of the Ab Slide machine to three of the most popular abdominal exercises:
- The abdominal crunch
- The supine double leg thrust
- The side bridge
Additionally, the researchers wanted to see which of these exercises minimized extraneous use of the rectus femoris, otherwise known as the hip flexors, while maximizing use of the rectus abdominus, the internal obliques and the external obliques. Since the hip flexors connect the thighs with the pelvis, they often become tight as a result of extensive time in a seated position. As such, in certain exercises, they have a tendency to overcompensate for weak abdominal muscles.
The Ab Slide Study Subjects
The researchers at the Mayo Clinic recruited ten men and ten women. The men had an average body fat of 10.7 percent and the women had an average body fat level of 20.7 percent. When you evaluate the outcome of this Ab Slide study, keep in mind that both the men and the women had average levels of body fat. Thus, we can not really speculate whether the Ab Slide machine would be effective for people with either high or athletically low levels of body fat.
The Process
While the subjects performed the four different exercises, the researchers recorded the peak EMG activity for each muscle group.
Ab Slide Study Results
Of the four exercises, the Ab Slide stimulated the most EMG activity for the abdominal muscles and the least for the rectus femoris or hip flexors. In contrast, the supine double leg thrust, otherwise known as the straight leg raise stimulated high hip flexor activity, which could make it a problematic exercise for people with lower back problems.
Interpreting the Results of the Ab Slide Study
Although the mayo Clinic researchers did not test for activity of other muscle groups, it’s interesting to note that some of the subjects experienced upper back and neck pain while performing the Ab Slide exercise. Thus, this is not a good choice for people who are deconditioned, or have back and neck problems. However, the two handles and four wheels make the Ab Slide more ergonomic that other similar products, and at $30 plus shipping and handling, it’s considerably less expensive. If you do not suffer from lower back or neck problems, and you have at least a minimal amount of basic abdominal strength, the Ab Slide might be a good choice.
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