By the end of the 20th century, exercise balls were an equipment staple at most fitness centers, proving that they were not just a trend. As manufacturers competed to create affordable and easily accessible exercise balls, prices dropped, but so did quality. Balls manufactured from May 2000 through February 2009 by a company called EB Brands were recalled because of their tendency to burst when overinflated. Fortunately, some companies still make safe and durable products.
Selection Standards
Durable and burst-resistant balls cost more but are safer and more effective. Heavier people should also look for balls with a higher maximum weight capacity. As the exercise ball trend gained momentum, manufacturers developed balls for specific types of fitness training. Some work best for heavy weight training, and others are predominantly for balance conditioning. Smaller weighted balls, called medicine balls, facilitate strength and sport-specific agility. While there is some functional carry-over among ball types, balls designed for your specific training requirements produce the best results.
Weight Training Ball
If you plan to use your exercise ball for heavy weight training, you will need a ball filled with a weighted material that keeps the ball in place while you perform your strength routine. The people who created the BOSU half-ball developed the ballast ball, also called the DSL ball. The American Council on Exercise, or ACE, gave it four out of five stars, and the Balls 'N' Bands ball rating chart gave the DSL a 10, the highest rating for durability. This burst-resistant ball is filled with 2.5 lbs. of material that stabilizes it during your workout. A detailed owner's manual and DVD come with the ballast ball, which ACE describes as "well-produced" and "easy to follow."
Balance Ball
Balance ball training should be challenging, but not excessively dangerous. Balls that deflate while in use exemplify the later. AOK Health, makers of the duraBall Pro, spent 15 years developing Duralon, the PVC material used for creating its exercise balls. The company also developed a cyclic loading test, which subjects the duraBall Pro to repeated loading of 500 kg and1,000 kg of force. Certified personal trainer Mike Behnken, owner of AskTheTrainer.com, has used the duraBall Pro for over 4,000 hours of training and claims that its detailed design prevents the balls from becoming lopsided when deflated.
Medicine Balls
Medicine balls come in bouncing and non-bouncing forms. The non-bouncing SPRI Soft Mini Xerball earned four out of five stars from ACE. These sand-filled medicine balls come in 1- to 8-lb. weights. ACE praises their soft, ergonomic design, which facilitates easier grip than other brands of medicine ball.
The Nike medicine ball bounces, making it effective for agility training. AskTheTrainer.com fitness specialists praise its durability. Nike's SPARQ website features medicine ball athletic training tips used by professional athletes and coaches.
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