Exercise Comparison
Ab Roller vs Crunch - Legs On Exercise Ball




Side-by-Side
Muscle Analysis
Shared
Only in Ab Roller
Instructions
Ab Roller
Hold the Ab Roller with both hands and kneel on the floor.
Now place the ab roller on the floor in front of you so that you are on all your hands and knees (as in a kneeling push up position). This will be your starting position.
Slowly roll the ab roller straight forward, stretching your body into a straight position. Tip: Go down as far as you can without touching the floor with your body. Breathe in during this portion of the movement.
After a pause at the stretched position, start pulling yourself back to the starting position as you breathe out. Tip: Go slowly and keep your abs tight at all times.
Crunch - Legs On Exercise Ball
Lie flat on your back with your feet resting on an exercise ball and your knees bent at a 90 degree angle.
Place your feet three to four inches apart and point your toes inward so they touch.
Place your hands lightly on either side of your head keeping your elbows in. Tip: Don't lock your fingers behind your head.
Push the small of your back down in the floor in order to better isolate your abdominal muscles. This will be your starting position.
Begin to roll your shoulders off the floor and continue to push down as hard as you can with your lower back. Your shoulders should come up off the floor only about four inches, and your lower back should remain on the floor. Breathe out as you execute this portion of the movement. Squeeze your abdominals hard at the top of the contraction and hold for a second. Tip: Focus on a slow, controlled movement. Refrain from using momentum at any time.
Slowly go back down to the starting position as you inhale.
Repeat for the recommended amount of repetitions.
Verdict
Both exercises target the abdominals. Ab Roller is a intermediate exercise using other, while Crunch - Legs On Exercise Ball is beginner and uses bodyweight. Choose Crunch - Legs On Exercise Ball if you're looking for a more accessible option, or Ab Roller for a greater challenge. Ab Roller is a compound movement working multiple joints, making it better for overall strength. Crunch - Legs On Exercise Ball isolates the target muscle for focused development.