Ab & Back Machines

Not strictly — but resistance-loaded ab work grows the abs faster than bodyweight crunches alone, just like any other muscle. If aesthetics or serious core strength matter to your clientele, a selectorized ab crunch or cable-based core station is a great addition. Combo ab/back machines like the Body-Solid S2ABB train both directions in one footprint.

A GHD (glute-ham developer) is an adjustable bench with foot plates and thigh pads that lets you train glute-ham raises, Russian twists, and back extensions at varying angles. It's a CrossFit and athletic training staple because it builds posterior-chain strength that barbell work alone can't reach. See our GHD / Hyperextension collection for options.

The two terms get used interchangeably, but traditionally: back extensions refer to 45° angled benches that train the lower back and glutes, while hyperextensions refer to horizontal benches (like a Roman chair) that target the same muscles with a longer range of motion. Either style is effective for low-back health and posterior-chain development.

Rotary torso machines train rotational strength — twisting your torso against resistance. This trains the obliques and the deep rotational core muscles that support everything from golf swings to lateral athletic movement. They're popular in functional-training facilities and any gym serving athletes or golfers.

Yes — both train the core heavily even though they also hit upper body. A dip station loads the chest, triceps, and core simultaneously. A VKR (vertical knee raise) tower is a padded station where you hang from your elbows and perform knee or leg raises — one of the most effective hanging core movements. Many commercial VKR stations also include dip bars and pull-up handles.