There has been some debate about whether a rowing machine can be effective for building abdominal muscles. Many claim that they are great for getting a full body workout, including your core, as one of the targeted groups of muscles. Others say that although your core may be involved, it is only engaged as a secondary muscle. There certainly hasn’t been any disagreement that a rowing machine provides a low impact, high intensity workout that can burn hundreds of calories per hour. The actual question lies in whether a rower is the best tool for targeting the abdominal muscles.

What you Should Consider

There are some major factors to consider for working any type of muscle group including your abdominal muscles. When you use a rowing machine, or any type of exercise equipment the right way, it will have a big impact on any results of your workout.

• When targeting your core muscles during rowing, you must be sitting properly on the machine, maintaining a great posture with every stroke you do. This will allow you to maximize results.

• If you plan on strengthening your abdominal muscles and improving your stamina, you will need to select a higher intensity exercise so it isn’t just the cardio that you are working on.

• The impact that rowing has on the abdominal muscles is based on the strength of your rowing. The harder the workout, the more you will be able to strengthen your core and various other muscles.

A rowing machine will tone various muscles in the legs, core, and arms. Some exercise enthusiasts will claim that the abs get a great workout because the rowing motion causes contraction of the abdominal muscles. Rowing burns calories and fat which in turn decreases the fat in all of your body. Your core muscles are working while you row, but the question that remains is how hard do they actually work.

Tried and Tested Benefits of Rowing

There are 5 amazing benefits that you will get when you use a rower to exercise. The top advantages are:

• Awesome Aerobic Exercise: A rower will increase your heart rate and will use several different muscle groups.

• Effective Way to Burn Calories: Using a rower can burn around 600 calories in one hour.

• Upper Body Conditioning: The Trapezius in your lower and upper back as well as your rhomboids in your shoulders receive a great workout. Your abs, biceps, and pectoral muscles do get a bit of a work out but not as much as the trapezius and rhomboids.

• Lower Body Conditioning: Your buttocks, quads, calves, and upper thighs get extensive exercise.

• Low Risk for Injuries: Because a rower is low to the ground, as well as considered a low impact way to workout, it doesn’t put stress on the joints and you won’t get hurt if you fall off.

There is very little doubt that the rower engages your abs but some believe that it is just used minimally, unlike the other important muscle groups. When you are rowing, you are doing hip and trunk flexion, which is actually targeting the ab movements of a sit-up. The resistance is in the reverse position of a sit-up which means that you are actually targeting the muscles in your buttocks, lower back, and hamstrings. You are using the ab and oblique muscles at the end of the rowing action to slow down the trunk extension motion, but the abs are actually less used in this activity. When it comes to rowing, there are various stages that include the catch, drive, finish and the recovery. Your abs are only really used during the recovery motion.

It would seem that when you use an indoor rower, you will get a superior workout. You will be able to burn a lot of calories in a shorter amount of time rather than any other exercise machine. This workout will target your chief muscle groups that are in your core, arms, legs and back. It is a great source for cardio fitness and has low impact on your joints. This machine can help relieve stress and it is effective for well being and your overall health. It is safe to say that even though the rower will give your ab muscles a workout, it is only to a certain extent and it isn’t a great choice if you are wanting to focus on improving you ab muscles. A rower uses the muscles that are in your legs and arms a lot more than it does in your midsection. If you are wanting a great workout, a rower is a great choice, but if you are looking for an ab specific machine, there are better options as far as exercise machines go.

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The Health Benefits of Rowing

Do you want to build the foundation for a healthy heart? You need cardio training. Cardio training is the fastest way to get a healthy heart. Traditionally people have ran long distances to get  cardio. Running long distances works but it is hard. People give up running because it takes a lot of time. People also hate the impact running has on their joints.

The problem is simple. Running comes with full body aches but not full body benefits.

Do you want to get full body benefits minus the aches and pains?

You should try rowing. Rowing is a fun way to get heart-healthy cardio from an easy to do exercise.

Rowing has a ton of benefits. Sound crazy? It’s not. Rowing is the go-to exercise for athletes, trainers and hobbyists who want to build a healthy heart.

Rowing is a non-impact exercise that:

*Gets cardio

*Improves posture

*Cuts stress

* And provides a full body workout.

Increased Cardiovascular Health:

One thing athletes love about rowing is that it provides resistance in both directions. Exercise that provides resistance in both direction gives a better full body workout.

That is why athletes are turning away from spinning and running.

Why are athletes giving up spinning and running? SImple. Spinning and running provide resistance in one direction. Rowing provides resistance going forwards and backwards.

While rowing you get dual resistance from using your legs and arms. By using both arms and legs you get a full body aerobic workout.

A full body aerobic workout is important. Full body workouts raise and maintain your heart rate. Research shows keeping your heart rate elevated matters.

Increasing your heart rate grows lung capacity, strengthens your cardiovascular system, and lowers stress.

On Stress:

Do you hate the stress of going to the gym? Are you tired of loud people lifting and grunting right next to you why you work out? Rowing can be done in the comfort of your home.

Rowing helps you escape the stress of the gym. It also de-stresses your heart. Research shows the repetition of rowing has a calming effect on mind and body.

On Posture:

Rowing has also been shown to improve posture. After a long day slouching over a computer screen a few minutes of rowing wakes up the muscles in the back. Waking up the muscles in your back promotes better back posture, eases muscle tension and can alleviate neck pain.

Double Down On Training:

Rowing helps build a strong foundation for lasting heart health. Rowing builds a strong foundation by combining muscular and endurance training.

You get twice the effect of a normal workout which means twice the impact on your health. Rowing works both your muscles and your endurance unlike lifting or running which works one or the other.

Getting both muscular and endurance training means your heart has to work harder. Training your heart to work harder over long periods makes it more efficient, forces it to pump more blood and increases cardiovascular strength.