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An American Council on Exercise (ACE) study used electromyography equipment to measure electrical activity generated as muscles work to measure the energy created in specific abdominal muscles (mainly the retus abdominus muscles—the six-pact muscles). Study participates performed 13 types of abs workouts, some with equipment, some without. The traditional crunch-style sit-up was used as a base line for the ratings.

The top-rated exercise was a bicycle exercise where you lie on the floor on you back, knees raised, and then move your legs as if riding a bicycle. This exercise was 250 percent better than the crunch.

The second rated exercise was the called the captain's chair. This exercise is done on two parallel bars that permit you to rest your weight on you forearms with the feet off the floor. The knees are then drawn up the chest and lowered. This exercise was 212 percent better than the crunch.

The third rated exercise is sit-ups done while lying back on a large squishy exercise ball. This exercise was 39 percent better than the crunch.

Exercises using equipment were basically ineffective. For example, the Body by Jake Ab Roller was only 5 percent better than the crunch. The AB Rocker was 21 percent worse than the crunch.

Three areas of muscles make up the abdominal region:

Rectus Abdomininis. This is the most visible muscle of the abdomen. It is often referred to as the main core of the "abs" and consists of the muscles that form the "six pack."

Enternal Obliques. These muscles are located on each side of the torso.

Intercostals. These muscle and tendon fibers run from the upper pectoral muscles to the lower latissimus dorsi.

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