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Exercise Comparison

Ab Roller vs Spider Crawl

Ab Roller - starting position
Ab Roller - ending position
Ab Roller
intermediate·Other·compound
Spider Crawl - starting position
Spider Crawl - ending position
Spider Crawl
beginner·Bodyweight·compound

Side-by-Side

Ab Roller
VS
Spider Crawl
intermediate
Level
beginner
Other
Equipment
Bodyweight
compound
Mechanic
compound
pull
Force
pull
Strength
Category
Strength
abdominals
Primary
abdominals
shoulders
Secondary
chestshoulderstriceps

Muscle Analysis

Shared

abdominalsshoulders

Only in Spider Crawl

chesttriceps

Instructions

Ab Roller

1

Hold the Ab Roller with both hands and kneel on the floor.

2

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.

3

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.

4

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.

Spider Crawl

1

Begin in a prone position on the floor. Support your weight on your hands and toes, with your feet together and your body straight. Your arms should be bent to 90 degrees. This will be your starting position.

2

Initiate the movement by raising one foot off of the ground. Externally rotate the leg and bring the knee toward your elbow, as far forward as possible.

3

Return this leg to the starting position and repeat on the opposite side.

Verdict

Both exercises target the abdominals. Ab Roller is a intermediate exercise using other, while Spider Crawl is beginner and uses bodyweight. Choose Spider Crawl if you're looking for a more accessible option, or Ab Roller for a greater challenge.

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