Benefits of Using an Exercise Ball By now, you’ve probably seen an exercise ball. They’re those things that look like giant playground balls that you see people rolling and stretching on at the gym. If you’re like me, you’re probably hesitant about using one of these balls. You may be worried about looking silly or can’t actually figure out how they work. Well, next time you’re at the gym, why don’t you try one out? You’ll probably find the benefits well worth it. Here are different ways an exercise ball can help you out: Strengthen Your Core Muscles What most people consider to be the biggest benefit of using an exercise ball is its ability to strengthen your core muscles. These are the muscles in your abs and back; the muscles you work so hard to tone up with crunches. When you do exercises on a ball, your abdominal and back muscles are constantly working to make adjustments and keep you balanced. Unlike traditional exercises, the ball works the muscles on the front and back of your body at the same time, promoting a more balanced and healthy physique.

Even if you’re targeting a different area, your core muscles are still getting exercise. dining chairs for sale gtaPlus, there are tons of exercises you can do on a ball that focus on strengthening and toning these muscles even more.party chairs for sale in gauteng Helps Your Posture and Upper Body Sorenesscost of wheelchair van conversion If you slump at a desk all day and find that your back, neck, and shoulders are sore at night, you can definitely benefit from an exercise ball. glider chair sale melbourneBy toning your core muscles, exercise balls can do wonders for your posture.folding arm chair costco

When your core is toned, the muscles keep working after you’re done working out, helping you sit up straight. table and chair rental kalamazoo miYou can get this benefit even without working out by replacing your desk chair with an exercise ball. wrought iron chair glides saleThis way you to maintain proper posture to stay on the ball and work your core at the same time!office chair to prevent leg swelling If you don’t think your workplace will allow you to sit on an exercise ball at your desk, they make exercise ball chairs that provide the same benefit with a more professional look.office chair casters at staples

Have you had a previous injury to your back, knee or hip? Do you worry about exercising because it might aggravate your condition? An exercise ball can help. The ball can be used to support your body while you stretch or build muscles. Those with back injuries may even be able to find some relief from pain by lying on the ball. These balls are so good for helping relieve strain and preventing future injury, they're often used by physical therapists for back rehabilitating back injuries. Helps Improve Your Flexibility If you find it hard to bend, move, and even touch your toes, an exercise ball can help you improve your flexibility. It can help you stretch yourself farther, but it can also provide support so you can stretch certain muscles more safely. Their ability to help stretch you out is one of the biggest reasons physical therapists swear by these balls. So what are you waiting for? With all these benefits you can’t afford to not go out and get an exercise ball today.

Check out Gaiam's selection of stability balls: Gaiam Website Previous Post Are You Forever Dieting? 8 Awesome Tips for the Perpetual Dieter Next Post 7 Ways to Boost Your Weight Loss WillpowerOne trend that come’s up over and over again in regard to healthier office seating is the use of a stability ball as an office chair. Producers claim that using a stability ball provides users with increased health benefits such as the strengthening of core muscles, more calories burnt and less back pain. But can these claims be substantiated? The New York Times says no. Using backing evidence from a 2009 British study their article concluded that using a stability ball as an office chair “led to just as much slumping and poor sitting positions as a desk chair”. In fact, it is almost impossible to maintain a neutral spine on a wellness ball over prolonged periods of time. Having a neutral spine means that your back is in its proper position: there is no pressure on your spinal discs and no feelings of discomfort or pain.

Disturbingly, findings from another Dutch study also concluded that using a stability ball as an office seat instead of a conventional office chair led to significant “spinal shrinkage”. So what is spinal shrinkage? Spinal shrinkage occurs when cushions between the spinal vertebrae lose fluid due to lack of movement. There are hundreds of office chairs that claim to be healther options for you than your standard office chair. We chose to compare sitting on a wellness ball with the Move, because the Move promises to do the same things that a wellness ball promises: it strenghtens core muscles, relieves back pains, and most importantly coaxes the body to balance at all times. The Move was specifically developed to continuously promote movement while maintaining a neutral spine. The continuous movement increases blood circulation and core muscle stimulation. Increased blood circulation through movement not only helps keep the brain in tip-top shape, it is also crucial to the process of increasing movement of fluid to the spinal muscles and cushions between the spinal vertebrae.

Studies performed using the stability ball as seating actually concludes that using a stability ball as a seat is detrimental to spinal health (and general health for that matter) “The small changes in biological responses when sitting on a stability ball as compared with an office chair, combined with the increased reported discomfort while on the ball, suggests its use for prolonged sitting may not be advantageous.”  – US Library of Medicine, National Institute of Health So why do people still choose to use the stability ball as office seating? The price may be a factor as using a ball as an office chair is a lot more affordable than investing in proper ergonomic seating solutions. Others have been introduced to stability balls through misinformed physiotherapists. There are so many choices when it comes to proper office seating but when looking at the Move in comparison to the stability ball the choice should fall upon the Move, either as a “back-up” chair for intervals with your regular office chair or continuously.

Physiotherapist Jacques Walg from the Netherlands who is a regular adviser to Varier and who champions the Move stool as well as the ergonomic concept of Active Sitting describes the benefits of the Move stool: “The spine retains its physical curvature in the same way as if one was standing. The load exerted on the spine is reduced and the intervertebral discs are supplied with blood. Load on abdominal and back muscles is applied in a dynamic and alternating way. The blood circulation is not interrupted in the legs due to muscle pump action”. When using the Move stool, the core and back muscles are highly activated. When sitting on a wellness ball, there is a huge compression placed on the spinal discs and a shortening of muscles due to constant contraction. Prolonged compression can in fact by derogatory to spinal health. “The intent of the ball chair developers was laudable: to take an item that seems to be beneficial in an area of health care (rehabilitation and strengthening/wellness) and apply the same principle to the office.