FREE SHIPPING on orders over $75. Work your core, stretch your back, or use it as a seat. This ergonomic latex-free balance ball will be your daily go-to piece of equipment at the gym, the office, or at home. Not compatible with the Classic Balance Ball Chair. Improves balance and fitness Incorporate into yoga, Pilates or fitness workouts Weight Capacity: 300 lbs. Note: this ball will not fit in the classic balance ball chair.Exercise balls are useful, in a gym or therapeutic setting, for strengthening your core muscles. The inherent instability of the round, prone-to-rolling exercise ball forces core muscles to constantly stabilize your body while you're on the ball. Even though big-name trainers like Bob Harper from "The Biggest Loser" endorse the use of exercise balls in place of desk chairs, some still oppose the idea. Exercise balls are sized by their diameter in centimeters. Your height determines what size ball you need. For general exercise applications, a 45 cm ball is appropriate for anyone up to 5 feet tall.
A 55 cm ball suits those 5 feet to 5 feet, 5 inches; a 65 cm ball suits individuals who are 5 feet, 5 inches up to 6 feet; a 75 cm ball is appropriate for those over 6 feet. Hard-to-find 85 cm exercise balls are appropriate for individuals over 6 feet, 8 inches. If you’re using the exercise ball as a chair, however, the University of Minnesota Extension recommends using a ball one size larger than you would for typical exercise. So, for example, an individual up to 5 feet tall would bump up to a 55 cm exercise ball. One of the biggest arguments against using exercise balls as desk chairs is that balls lack the adjustability and support that a proper ergonomic--by its very definition, “stable”--chair provides. Features that an ergonomic chair may have that a ball cannot provide include adjustable seat depth and angle, lumbar support and armrests. Exercise balls don’t offer the same support that an ergonomic office chair would. After all, forcing your body to stabilize itself is part of the appeal if using the ball instead of a chair.
But an exercise ball should still conform to some of the same principles of ergonomics that govern office chairs. To test whether your exercise ball has you properly aligned, sit squarely on the ball in front of your desk, close your eyes, and adjust your head angle, as necessary, so that it’s facing straight forward. You should be looking right at the center of your computer screen. If you’re not, adjust either the screen or where your ball chair is situated. Next, sit up straight on the ball with your upper arms straight down by your sides. Bend your elbows and place both hands on the computer keyboard or, if you have no keyboard, the desktop. Your elbows should be bent at a 90-degree angle; if they’re not, you need to adjust the size of your exercise ball or your desk accordingly. Arguments against using exercise balls as desk chairs include the risk of falling off the ball; excessive strain from continued muscular exertion; the fact that one can slump just as easily on an exercise ball as in a chair;
the lack of support for those with back injuries; and the potential risk of a sudden deflation. The chief touted benefit of using an exercise ball as a desk chair is that it will give you a constant core workout as your muscles struggle to stabilize your core, so that even while working at your desk, you'll still be getting some exercise. Simply rolling your exercise ball over a fallen thumbtack might cause it to suddenly deflate. If you’re sitting on it when this happens, a serious injury might result. Help cut the risk of this happening by selecting an exercise ball that is clearly labeled as either puncture- or burst-resistant, or with the letters SDS (slow deflate system). Gain 2 pounds per week Gain 1.5 pounds per week Gain 1 pound per week Gain 0.5 pound per week Maintain my current weight Lose 0.5 pound per week Lose 1 pound per week Lose 1.5 pounds per week Lose 2 pounds per week How to Use a Stability Ball As a Chair
Pros & Cons of Sitting on a Stability Ball Exercise Ball Chair Exercises How to Sit on an Exercise Ball at a Desk 5 Things You Need to Know About Using an Exercise Ball as an Office Chair How to Sit on a Workout Ball at Work The Benefits of Using a Stability Ball as a Chair Does an Exercise Ball Chair Actually Give You Any Health Benefits? The Best Exercise Ball Brand What Size Stability Ball Should I Buy? Calories Burned Sitting on an Exercise Ball Deep Pressure and Heavy Activities for School Age Children Cons of Using an Exercise Ball All DayBaby Goat Doing Yoga Chairs to Help With Baby Sitting Up Instructions for a 65 cm Exercise Ball Total-Body Blast Stability Ball Workout Do Exercise Balls Work? How to Blow Up an Exercise BallUser ReviewedHow to Use an Exercise Ball As a Chair An exercise ball is a useful workout tool that helps to increase balance and strengthen the core muscles in your back and stomach.
These muscles support your spine and help to take the burden of weight off the spine. Strong core muscles are elementary in achieving good posture. Recently, the fitness ball has moved out of the gym and into the home and office. People are using the ball as a chair in order to strengthen core muscles. This is called "active sitting" because your muscles are engaged. Using the wrong techniques with an exercise ball may do you more harm than good. This article will tell you how to use an exercise ball as a chair. Choose the right fitness ball for your height and weight. If you are of average weight and you are under 5'3" (160 cm), you should choose a 55 cm (21.7 inch) diameter exercise ball. Buy a burst-resistant exercise ball. Purchase your ball at a store that allows returns if the ball is not the right size. Pump up the ball, aiming to pump it up to maximum diameter so that you do not sink too far into the ball. Sit up straight on the ball with your legs out in front of you.
They should be at a 90 degree angle to your thighs and parallel to the ball. At first, you can place your calves in front of you so that they are touching the ball. This will give you added stability while learning to use the ball. Later, you will want to move your calves so they are not touching, which will provide more benefits for your core. Bend your elbows and place your forearms at a 90 degree angle. Reaching forward slightly, you should be able to rest them on the top of the desk or table. If you are using a computer, make sure it is at a 90 degree angle. If it is not, your neck will be out of alignment with the rest of your spine, and the ball will be less useful in helping your posture. Use the ball in 20 minute intervals. Do not get rid of your office chair. Just like exercise, it is important to give your muscles rest to prevent muscle fatigue and get the maximum benefit. Work up to 30 minute intervals as you get used to the chair. Doctors do not recommend that you sit for longer than 30 minutes at a time.