Bodytone FH40 abdominal crunch and back extension machine

Description

The Bodytone FH40 is a selectorised trunk machine that performs both seated abdominal crunches and lumbar back extensions. Training the two sides of the trunk on one frame is the reason it appears on so many equipment lists: a site that loads only the abdominals leaves the lumbar extensors untrained, and the imbalance shows up as back complaints among members. With a 126 x 111 cm base it is one of the narrower selectorised stations in the Forza FH range and fits well into hotel gyms, corporate wellness rooms, physiotherapy practices and commercial clubs.

Technical specification

Trunk work in a supervised facility

Loaded trunk flexion and extension are movements where a fixed path is worth more than on a limb exercise, because the alternative is a member improvising on a mat with poor lumbar control. The FH40 sets the pivot at the trunk, so the range is bounded by the machine and the load is applied in 7 kg steps that can start very low, which is what makes it usable in adapted physical activity and post injury reconditioning as well as in general fitness.

The 126 x 111 cm footprint is compact, and the working envelope stays close to the frame since the movement is a rotation of the trunk rather than a limb sweep. Access is from the front of the seat and the machine is reconfigured between the crunch and the extension position, so leave enough space for a user to change setting without stepping into a walkway. Height is 162 cm.

Net weight is 250 kg, to be checked against permissible floor loading above ground level. Maintenance covers the cable and pulleys, the trunk pivot, the pad adjustments and the selector pin, plus daily cleaning of the chest and back pads with a neutral cleaner.

Stack configuration

Standard stack 107 kg, with a 134 kg option. Trunk work is rarely limited by the top of the stack, so the standard configuration is the usual specification; the extension is mainly of interest to strength sport and tactical populations who load the extension pattern heavily.

Frequently asked questions

Why train back extension and not just the abdominals?

Because the trunk is a ring of muscle, not a front panel. Programming abdominal flexion without lumbar extension produces an unbalanced trunk, and the extensors are the muscles that support posture under load. Having both on the same station makes it easy to programme them in the same session.

Can the machine be used in rehabilitation?

The guided range and the 7 kg starting increment make it suitable for supervised reconditioning, which is why physiotherapy practices specify it. As always, the protocol and the load are the practitioner’s decision, not the equipment’s.

How long does the switch between the two exercises take?

The station is reconfigured between the crunch and the extension position by the user, so the two movements can be alternated within one visit rather than requiring two machines and two positions on the floor plan.

Request a quotation for the Bodytone FH40, or browse the full range of strength training machines.