Stability balls, also called exercise balls, physio balls and Swiss balls, are over-sized rubber balls used for fitness, rehabilitation and now, desk chairs. Stability balls were first used in clinical rehabilitation centers in the 1960s. The fitness world adopted the stability ball in the 1980s after it witnessed how well you could develop balance and strength on this new exercise tool. From there, stability balls morphed into chairs, due to their ability to facilitate good posture.
Function
Proponents cite a handful of benefits as the reasons to use a stability ball as a chair. The most popular benefit is increased abdominal muscle activity. Unlike a standard chair, a stability ball is unstable. In order to balance yourself on the ball, you must activate your abdominal muscles continuously. Other benefits include better posture, since it is more difficult to slouch on a stability ball, and improved balance.
Type
There are dozens of brands of stability balls on the market. The brand isn't as important as the type. If you want to use your stability ball as a chair, purchase an anti-burst ball. These balls are designed to slowly deflate rather than bursting suddenly.This minimizes the risk of injury if your ball punctures.
Size
When purchasing a stability for fitness purposes, the American Council on Exercise recommends finding the proper ball size by sitting on the ball. When you sit on a stability ball, your knees and hips should align at 90-degree angles. If your knees sit higher than your hips, the ball is too small, and if your knees sit lower than your hips, the ball is too big. To find the proper stability ball size for use as a chair, measure the seat height of your current chair. Purchase a ball with a maximum diameter that is at least 4 inches greater than your current chair height. You will need the extra size as the stability ball sinks some when you sit on it.
Considerations
Just as with regular desk chairs, people have different preferences when using a stability ball as a chair. You may like to sit higher and closer to the desk while your co-worker prefers to sit lower. You may like a firm stability ball for a chair, as opposed to a softer ball. The height of your desk will also affect what size stability ball works best. If possible, find others who use stability balls as chairs and try out different sizes.
Expert Insight
Not all fitness experts agree that using a stability ball as a chair is a good idea. The most common issue is the potential for back injury. Some experts suggest that since your core is contracting while you sit on the ball, and contraction equals shortening of the muscle, this shortening results in increased compression on the intervertebral discs. This sustained compression is not good for the spine and could result in back discomfort or injury. There is also the chance that the unstable stability ball could roll out from under you resulting in possible injury.
Member Comments