How to do the Seated Ab Machine
- Adjust the seat so the back pad comfortably touches your upper back.
- Place your feet firmly on the platform and hold the handles.
- Sit upright, keeping your chest facing forward and hips still.
- Flex your trunk to curl your ribcage toward your pelvis.
- Slowly return to the starting position, controlling the movement.
Full technique — 7 steps
- Adjust the seat and pads so the back pad contacts your upper torso comfortably.
- Place your feet firmly on the platform and grip the handles.
- Sit tall against the pad with hips fixed and your chest facing forward.
- Lightly tighten your stomach, then flex your trunk to curl your ribcage toward your pelvis.
- Continue until you reach your strongest shortened abdominal position without yanking on the handles.
- Squeeze the abs briefly at the end range of the crunch.
- Reverse the motion under control until your torso returns to the machine's start position.
Common mistakes
- Pulling the handles with arms
- Using momentum to start reps
- Stopping short of trunk flexion
- Letting hips shift on seat
Form cues
- Curl ribcage toward pelvis
- Keep hips pinned down
- Move through your trunk
- Exhale into the crunch
