How The Sit-Up Bench Builds Abs & Reduces Injury

The sit-up bench is one piece of equipment to use at the gym or add to your home gym for some serious muscle growth and support.

When it comes to the gym, or even or home gyms, having machines and other pieces of equipment can be vital for our success. While these machines, like a bench, may be expensive, it is wise to look towards functionality as a way to decide on just how worth it the purchase would be.

Something that allows for a variety of exercises and is multi-functional is obviously better than something more isolated-focused, but what you’ll find is the versatility of many of these machines will allow for numerous exercises anyway. The sit-up bench is one such machine that can prove worthwhile for your gains and allows for a host of exercises to be performed on it. Looking into some of the best sit-up benches isn’t a bad idea.

While the sit-up bench may be most commonly known for its ability to really enhance your ab growth, it is important to realize that other parts of you can benefit from this. Your pelvis, hips, and low back are just a few that can really benefit from the design and movements required on the sit-up bench as you really work for a great physique. As a versatile and efficient machine to have in your home gym, look no further than to a high quality bench to really enhance your goals with the features offered so you still look thick.

Let’s take a look at the sit-up bench and see just what this machine can do for us. From what it is, to the many benefits, and some great exercises and variations to try while using the sit-up bench, you won’t be disappointed with the results.

What Is This Machine?

The sit-up bench is mainly an abdominal machine designed to promote proper form, especially when performing sit-ups. What it does is provide great support and stability by limiting pressure on your back and minimizing the chance at injury given the way this supports your thick frame. Very convenient to place anywhere at home and this bench is simple to learn and use, making this piece of equipment a stellar addition to any of your workout routines as you seek variations with any amount of weight during the sit-up (1).

Benefits To Big Abs & Injury Reduction

The benefits of this machine are largely centered around muscle growth and injury prevention, but overall, this would be one purchase you won’t be disappointed in as it will enhance your sit-up. When looking to invest in your health and fitness, you can’t go wrong by adding a multi-functional tool into your repertoire.

The benefits of the sit-up bench include:

• Muscle growth: Work to build abdominal muscle in a controlled and efficient way for all muscle groups with any given weight for your sit-up.
• Protect against injury: Limit the risk of hurting yourself thus keeping you firing on all cylinders.
• Versatility: Allows for a host of exercises to be performed and can be placed anywhere in your home for a decent price with easy assembly.
• Adjustable: You can find comfort in knowing your body will be properly placed on the machine with its adjustable capabilities for this bench.
• Burn some calories: Like any exercise, this will allow you to burn those calories you want gone.

Two of the biggest benefits to the sit-up bench are its ability to build those abs to sculpt that desired six-pack and work to reduce injury so you no longer have to deal with any unnecessary pain.

Build Those Desired Abs

We all want that shredded aesthetic, especially in our mid-section. It is important to have a good ab routine placed into your workout regimen to really fire up your core so you get each muscle to pop and a sit-up can help. Since this machine allows for a variety of exercises aside from the sit-up, you really get the chance to strengthen all areas of your core, including your obliques, upper and lower abdominals, and any smaller muscles that may be overlooked. This bench machine is a great way to work on targeting and toning your abs so you’re one step closer to that desired physique with the benefit of being in all kinds of positions.

Reduce Injury

The way this bench machine is built is to provide comfort as you really grind away. With padded back support and other structural benefits, this machine will work to provide great support and stabilization as you work out stress free. Too often do we find ourselves in our workout and something starts to hurt. Many of us know the difference between muscle soreness and real pain and this machine will help alleviate that fear so you can really challenge yourself and see the growth you want most (2).

Exercises To Perform On This Machine

While there are a variety of exercises to perform on this machine, we wanted to list a few to get you started. The traditional sit-up is as staple, but there are so many others to work to boost that physique so you see the desired gains you want start to take shape. With this bench being adjustable and solid as steel, it made it that much easier to find many positions with little assembly and maximum utility.

Russian Twist

This is a great exercise to target your obliques and work on that V-shape to give you a shredded aesthetic and great features. While on the bench, you rotate from side to side, really feeling the burn in your obliques as you engage your core, different than the sit-up.

Leg Lifts

Leg lifts are great for working those core muscle deep inside that offer good support to your spine and low back. Face the other direction so your hands grab the bar normally where your feet would be and your back is flat on the pads of the machine. Raise your legs to a 90-degree angle as you brace your core and use the handles for support.

Trunk Extensions

Trunk extensions will work to strengthen your back (3) and will require you to be flat on the bench, like a board as to not hyper extend. As you lay face down on the bench, slowly lift your chest as far as your free range of motion will allow and then return to the starting position.

Wrap Up

The sit-up bench is a great machine to use either at the gym or to include in your own for the features it offers, like pads. With great benefits to strengthening your core and allowing for support to prevent injury, this durable and versatile bench machine allows you to perform a variety of exercises while providing comfort as you grind away in the seat. Check out some of the best sit-up benches and really see what this can do for you as you seek that shredded aesthetic and those six-pack abs.

Let us know what you think in the comments below. Also, be sure to follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. 

*Images courtesy of Envato

References

1. Baz-Valle, Eneko; Schoenfeld, Brad J.; Torres-Unda, Jon; Santos-Concejero, Jordan; Balsalobre-Fernandez, Carlos (2019). “The effects of exercise variation in muscle thickness, maximal strength and motivation in resistance trained men”. (source)
2. Miles, M. P.; Clarkson, P. M. (1994). “Exercise-induced muscle pain, soreness, and cramps”. (source)
3. Ridder, Eline M. D.; Danneels, Lieven; Vleeming, Andry; Vanderstraeten, Guy G. (2015). “Trunk extension exercises: How is the trunk extensor muscle recruitment related to the exercise dosage?”. (source)