The exercise ball is brilliant in its simplicity. It facilitates balance training, core workouts, sport conditioning and flexibility exercise. The balls, under some circumstances, double as a weight bench and support strength-training exercises in the supine, decline and prone positions. These types of exercises require a burst-proof exercise ball.
Choosing a Ball
Burst-resistant balls have a textured appearance while those that are not burst-proof are smooth and shiny. The ball's weight limits also give clues to whether they are burst-proof. Exercise balls have two weight limits. The burst-proof limit tells you how much weight the ball can withstand without exploding if punctured. A ball with a high burst-proof limit will deflate gradually if punctured, giving you time to get off the ball. The static weight limit simply indicates how much weight the ball can hold.
Best for Seniors
The exercise ball enhances balance and movement awareness in seniors, but some older adults may require an extra margin of safety. Eldergadget.com, a website that reviews senior-friendly gadgets, recommends the Thera-Band SDS Exercise Ball. "SDS" stands for "slow deflate system." The Thera-Band SDS balls are treated with specially formulated compound that prevents them from bursting when punctured. When tested, the balls provided 8 to 10 minutes of gradual deflation when punctured and holding a constant, 250-pound load. Thera-Band is one of the original manufacturers of exercise bands. The company supports a peer-reviewed research site called the Thera-Band Academy.
Latex Free
If you are allergic to latex, you might have trouble exercising on some brands of exercise balls. Gymnic makes a burst-proof, nonlatex ball called the Gymnic Arte Plus. Even if you do not have problems with latex, the appearance of the Gymnic Arte Plus makes it a desirable product. Instead of the typical blue or green, the company uses a medley of colors during the manufacturing process, creating a sunrise effect, with each ball looking different. Gymnic has been around for a long time. In the 1960s, an Italian toy maker named Aquilino Cosani created the first exercise ball, and sold it through the Gymnic company. Performaball, an organization that researches and creates ball exercises, claims that the Gymnic balls are the only ones they will use.
Weight Training Ball
Certified elite trainers Michael Behnken, of the AsktheTrainer.com website, and Billy Polson of Diakadi Body are fans of the Duraball Pro, a subsidiary of AOK Health. The company, while testing and evaluating ball materials at the University of Newcastle in England, developed a PVC material called Duralon 8800. Tests revealed that the Duraball Pro supports static loads of 8,800 pounds, and is burst resistant to 1,100 pounds. This is the safest ball for heavier weight-training.
References
- Eldergadget.com: Gadgets For Sharp Elderly Minds; Part 1: Exercise Gadgets; James Alexander; June 15, 2009
- AsktheTrainer.com: Exercise Balls Reviews & Recommendations
- Performaball: Stability Ball Facts with Dos and Don'ts; April 15, 2010
- Real Jock: Find Your Perfect Ball -- How to Choose and Use the Right Stability Ball: Billy Polson; June 30, 2009
- Duraball: Design amd Manufacture
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