Research and Studies

Strong abs are about much more than good looks—they are key to increasing core strength and endurance, improving posture, reducing low-back pain and enhancing sport performance. In keeping with its role as America’s Workout Watchdog®, the American Council on Exercise (ACE) commissioned exclusive research to determine just how effective some of the most popular devices and ab exercises are in comparison to the traditional crunch.

How experienced and knowledgeable are the volunteers coaching youth sports? After all, they’re responsible for keeping kids safe, whether on the field or during practice. Though no one expects these valiant volunteers to have advanced degrees in exercise science, this exclusive ACE study exposes alarming gaps in qualifications for those who coach youth sports.

CrossFitTM is, arguably, the hottest trend in fitness these days, with legions of devotees performing WODs (workouts of the day). But are these short, high-intensity workouts enough to get you fit? This ACE-sponsored study, which looked at the calorie burn and intensity of two popular CrossFit workouts, has the answer.

Tabata, a form of high-intensity interval training (HIIT), is one of the hottest trends in fitness right now, with legions of exercisers doing high-intensity Tabata-style workouts, including most notably the CrossFit community. In this exclusive ACE-sponsored study, researchers examined the physiological responses to a Tabata-style workout to determine if it is really as effective as many believe it to be.

Indoor cycling is ideal for challenging the cardiovascular system and burning a ton of calories. New ACE-sponsored research suggests that incorporating more standing cycling—with or without weighted vests, which help simulate hill climbing—can be an effective way to increase the intensity of indoor cycling even more.