Abdomenizer
Encyclopedia
The Abdomenizer was an abdominal exercise
r invented in 1984 by Canadian chiropractor Dennis Colonello and marketed through infomercial
s by the Fitness Quest corporation of Canton, Ohio
. It was an almost flat, saddle-like piece of thermoformed plastic, about 2 by 3 feet, with handles and a depression for the tailbone. The infomercial, first broadcast in October 1988 and featuring Charlene Tilton
, promised that you would "rock, rock, rock your way to a firmer stomach". By 1992, 1.5 million had been sold directly from TV advertising, and 2 million more had been sold in stores, but it is no longer sold.
The product was designed to protect the lower back during sit-ups
, "But they won't make the exercise any easier and they won't magically "firm both upper and lower abdominals," as the box claims." Using an Abdomenizer might lead to overly fast movements, causing injury. Wired described it as:
Many people used them as snow sleds
, and a warning label
was affixed advising against this use.
Abdominal exercise
Abdominal exercises are those that affect the abdominal muscles .-Usage:Abdominal exercises are useful for building the abdominal muscles...
r invented in 1984 by Canadian chiropractor Dennis Colonello and marketed through infomercial
Infomercial
Infomercials are direct response television commercials which generally include a phone number or website. There are long-form infomercials, which are typically between 15 and 30 minutes in length, and short-form infomercials, which are typically 30 seconds to 120 seconds in length. Infomercials...
s by the Fitness Quest corporation of Canton, Ohio
Canton, Ohio
Canton is the county seat of Stark County in northeastern Ohio, approximately south of Akron and south of Cleveland.The City of Caton is the largest incorporated area within the Canton-Massillon Metropolitan Statistical Area...
. It was an almost flat, saddle-like piece of thermoformed plastic, about 2 by 3 feet, with handles and a depression for the tailbone. The infomercial, first broadcast in October 1988 and featuring Charlene Tilton
Charlene Tilton
Charlene L. Tilton is an American actress and singer. She is best known for playing Lucy Ewing in the television series Dallas.-Career:...
, promised that you would "rock, rock, rock your way to a firmer stomach". By 1992, 1.5 million had been sold directly from TV advertising, and 2 million more had been sold in stores, but it is no longer sold.
The product was designed to protect the lower back during sit-ups
Sit-up (exercise)
The sit-up is a strength training exercise commonly performed with the aim of strengthening the hip flexors and abdominal muscles. It begins with lying with the back on the floor, typically with the arms across the chest or hands behind the head and the knees bent in an attempt to reduce stress on...
, "But they won't make the exercise any easier and they won't magically "firm both upper and lower abdominals," as the box claims." Using an Abdomenizer might lead to overly fast movements, causing injury. Wired described it as:
Many people used them as snow sleds
Sledding
Sledding , sledging , sleding or tobogganing is a common activity in wintry areas, similar to sliding, but in a prone or seated position requiring a device or vehicle generically known in the US as a sled or in other countries as a sledge or toboggan...
, and a warning label
Warning label
A warning label is a label attached to an item, or contained in an item's instruction manual, warning the user about risks associated with the use of the item as intended by the manufacturer or seller. Most of them are intended to limit civil liability in lawsuits against the item's manufacturer...
was affixed advising against this use.
External links
- traveler: blue skies, snowy hills, and my abdomenizer. Using an Abdomenizer as a sled, 17 March 2009. - satirical news story