Ab Mat

An ab mat is a fitness support accessory made of a high-density foam pad designed to provide lower back support specifically for your lumbar spine whenever you are performing sit-ups and crunches. It provides support during these abdominal exercises, maximises your muscle engagement, and improves comfort during your routine.

During sit-ups, place the ab mat higher end against your lower back and the thinner end towards your shoulders, which gives your better stretch during your workout. To increase difficulty and resistance during sit-ups, you can place your hands across your chest.

Ab mat is commonly used for sit-ups or other abdominal work, but you can also use it for butterfly sit-ups, handstand push-ups, kneeling lunges, plank variations, and even with warmups or stretches. Make sure that you wipe it down with a damp cloth after each workout so that it will be slippery for the next routine.

An ab mat fills the gap between your lower back and the floor, providing more support to your spine's natural curve. So using an ab mat forces your abs muscles to do the work. This means your abs have to work much harder during your core training, pull you back up, and engage more deeply to build endurance and strength.

Yes, placing an ab mat under your back while benching can help you maintain a consistent and safe posture throughout the lift. This also creates a back arch and chest-up position that tilts your rib cage upwards to better align your muscles with the barbell’s path during bench press. Using an ab mat during a bench press also maximises the gains and improves pressing power.