Many people think that crunches are the best abs exercise and the most effective way to get toned abs is to do lots of crunches every day. While crunches do work the ab muscles they are not the best exercise for your abs. In fact research that recorded the muscle activity of the abdominal muscles during different exercises has shown that crunches are not even in the top ten most effective exercises for both upper and lower abs.

So what is the best abs exercise? Here are the top ten based on the amount of muscle activity during each. The top two best exercises are the same for both upper and lower abs.

For upper abs the best abs exercises are:

1. Bicycle Maneuver

2. Captain’s Chair

3. Exercise Ball

4. Vertical Leg Crunch

5. Torso Track

6. Long-Arm Crunch

7. Reverse Crunch

8. Crunch with Heel Push

9. Ab Roller

10. Plank

The best abs exercises for the lower abs are:

1. Captain’s Chair

2. Bicycle Maneuver

3. Reverse Crunch

4. Plank

5. Vertical Leg Crunch

6. Exercise Ball

7. Torso Track

8. Crunch with Heel Push

9. Long-Arm Crunch

10. Ab Roller

The results were very similar for both muscle groups and the best exercise came in at the top of both lists. The bicycle maneuver and captains chair create more muscle activity in the abdominal muscles than any other tested exercise. If you want to get sleek, toned abs these two exercises are some of the best to add to your workout routine because they have been proven to be the best abs exercises.

The bicycle maneuver is the best abs exercise because it is easy to do and does not require any type of equipment. To perform this exercise you lie on your back and put your hands beside your head. You bend your knees to 45-degree angle and start a pedal motion by touching your elbow to your opposite knee while alternating each side.

The captain’s chair is also one of the best exercises to work your abs and only requires a sturdy chair with arms or a dip machine. This is the best ab exercise and is often overlooked because it is not a traditional type of floor exercise. Never the less it is very effective. First, sit on a chair and grip the handles. Make sure you keep your lower back straight and stable. Then press your back against the pad and slowly lift your knees towards your chest. If you want toned abs this is one of the best exercises you can do.

Getting sexy toned abs takes work and the right exercises. It is important to do the best abs exercise otherwise you will be doing more work with fewer results. You also need to make sure to incorporate cardio into your workout and eat a healthy diet so that you can lose any fat that will obscure your tones muscles.