There is no difference between a stability ball and a yoga ball. It is the same ball with different names. The ball has many benefits in physical therapy. It has been adopted by the fitness industry because it also has benefits for conditioning and overall fitness.
History
The stability or yoga ball was developed in 1963 by Aquilino Cosani. Cosani perfected a process for molding large puncture-resistant plastic balls. They were originally used in treatment programs for newborns and infants in Switzerland. From there, they progressed to being used in physical therapy for neuro-development treatment. Seeing them in use in the early 1980s, American physical therapists were quick to adopt them. Although they were originally created for physical therapy, by the late 1980s they were being used in athlete training, general fitness, yoga and Pilates. They are considered to be one of the most effective conditioning methods.
Sizes
There are general guidelines to choose the correct stability or yoga ball size. If you are between 4 feet 8 inches and 5 feet 5 inches tall, a ball with a diameter of 22 inches would be a good choice. If you are 5 feet 6 inches to 6 feet tall, a 26-inch diameter ball would be about right. A ball of 30 inches in diameter would work for someone between 6 feet 1 inch and 6 feet 5 inches tall. Your body weight is not the only factor to consider in choosing a ball. There are two ways to measure weight limits. Static weight is when you are sitting on the ball. Dynamic weight is when you are bouncing up and down or using weights while sitting on the ball. Burst-proof balls will not explode when punctured. They are usually rated to hold between 200 to 500 lbs. The static weight that can be put on a ball is usually between 600 and 2,200 lbs.
Benefits
The body responds to the instability of the stability or yoga ball to remain balanced, which works more muscles than a hard flat surface would. Those muscles, usually the abdominals and back muscles or the core-body muscles, are targeted by stability and yoga-ball programs. The ball also helps you to improve your balance and targets specific muscle groups like the back, buttocks, hips and legs. The ball can be used as a chair for proper spine alignment. The ball chair requires constant shifting in position, increasing calorie expenditure and helping with weight loss.
Additional Uses
A stability or yoga ball is known by a variety of different names, such as balance ball, fitness ball, stability ball or yoga ball. These balls have a number of uses. They are not only for fitness. The stability or yoga balls are helpful for pregnant women with exercise. These balls have additional uses such as assisting in labor and getting back in shape after the delivery. Babies and children love playing with them.
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