Passion will keep you going when the going gets tough.The stability ball is a piece of exercise equipment used for strength training, improving balance and stability. Replacing the office chair for the stability ball is increasingly popular because of the potential for improved health, posture and strength, but you should be aware of both the benefits and drawbacks before deciding to use a stability ball. Always consult a doctor before starting this or any other exercise regimen. The stability ball, also known as the Swiss ball, yoga ball or exercise ball, is an inflated ball constructed of soft PVC material. Stability balls come in different colors and sizes, and for best results, you should choose a ball that fits your height range. If you are between 4-foot-11 and 5-foot-4, select a ball that is 55 cm in diameter. If you are between 5-foot-5 and 5-foot-11, use a ball that is 65 cm in diameter. If you are over 6 feet, choose a ball that is 75 cm. Spineuniverse explains that sitting on a stability ball can improve stability and balance because doing so is said to constantly engage the core abdominal muscles.
Stronger ab muscles protect the lower back and promote better posture, and can be the result of using the stability ball. A study in the "Journal of Canadian Chiropractic Association" by chiropractors Larry G. Merritt and Celynne M. Merritt showed that two people who reportedly suffered from lower back pain improved when they began consistently sitting on a stability ball. Of course, results vary by individual, and not everyone experiences these results. According to the United States Army Public Health Command, sitting on an exercise ball can have a few drawbacks. For example, because exercise balls lack arm rests and back supports, the upper body might not be properly and fully supported. The UCLA Comprehensive Spine Center argues that the use of an armrest takes some strain off your neck and shoulders and makes you less likely to slouch. The Health Command also explains that sitting in a chair in a reclined position significantly eliminates disc pressure in the back, but this position cannot be maintained while sitting on an exercise ball.
If you use the stability ball in place of an office chair, you might feel that the ball is not tall enough for you to reach your desktop. You also might have concerns that the stability ball will roll away when you stand, so you might need to find a way to anchor it. Prolonged improper sitting posture and office equipment that promotes bad posture can damage spinal structure and cause recurring back and neck pain. The UCLA Comprehensive Spine Center explains that when sitting and resting your arms on a desk, your upper arms should be parallel to your spine. When you look at your computer, your gaze should be aimed at the middle of your screen. Your thighs should be parallel to the floor with your feet planted firmly on the ground. Keep in mind that you might just as easily slouch on a stability ball as you would in a chair, so practice good posture regardless of the seat. If you are new to using a stability ball, you might need to start out using the ball in small increments, as your body and muscles might not be accustomed to sitting in this manner for long periods and get fatigued.
As your muscles build strength and endurance and become familiar with the seating position, it will become easier and you will be able to use the ball for longer periods. Your employer or work environment might not permit you to use a stability ball in the workplace, so receive approval before bringing your ball to work. 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 Exercise Ball Vs. Desk Chair How to Sit on an Exercise Ball at a Desk Does an Exercise Ball Chair Actually Give You Any Health Benefits? Exercise Ball Chair Exercises The Best Exercise Ball Brand How to Sit on a Workout Ball at Work The Benefits of Using a Stability Ball as a Chair 5 Things You Need to Know About Using an Exercise Ball as an Office Chair
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And not only that, but the way you sit -- and type, and hold the phone -- may be wreaking havoc on your bones, joints, and muscles. "People who sit at their computers for hours every day -- they're in for serious medical problems," says Sharon Hame, MD, associate clinical professor at UCLA's department of orthopaedic surgery. "We're seeing more things than carpal tunnel; those pains go up the arm to the elbow and shoulder and then translate to the neck and back. It's a huge problem." In addition to carpal tunnel and other traditional ergonomic issues, new problems are cropping up, Hame says. "I saw a woman yesterday who had tennis elbow. She got it at work from the way she answered the phone and worked at the computer." The solution, experts say, is to break up your work by doing stretching exercises at your desk. Relieve Back Pain With Stretching Exercises at Your Desk Aches and pains, not to mention the weight gain that can result from hunching over your desk all day, are just the beginning.
"People shouldn't be complacent about moving just because they're not obese," says Angela Smith, MD, orthopaedic surgeon at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and former president of the American College of Sports Medicine. "There are a lot of skinny people who, because they don't exercise for strength and balance, are osteoporotic fractures waiting to happen." So what can you do to ward off pain and stiffness and boost your energy and alertness? WebMD consulted orthopaedic surgeons and exercise specialists for 12 simple stretching exercises at your desk that will release tension from head to toe. They take only a few minutes. Set the alarm on your cell phone or computer to go off every hour to remind you it's time to get up and stretch. The 12 Best Stretching Exercises at Your Desk Just stand up and sit down -- no hands You might have gotten a gold star in preschool for sitting still, but it just goes to show you (best sellers notwithstanding) that not all of us learned everything we need to know in kindergarten.
"If you stand up and sit down (over and over) -- without using your hands -- it can be a challenge," says Smith. "Do it while you're on the phone; no one will know." Substitute exercise for sitting -- while you work Get rid of your desk chair and substitute an exercise ball, suggests Smith. "I used it for a while when I was having low-back problems; it was great," Smith says. "All day you are engaging all the muscles in the back, legs, butt, everything, to stay balanced." Hame knows one man who put a treadmill in his office and conducted all his business while walking. (He lost weight, too, Hame says.) Shrug your shoulders -- to release the neck and shoulders Inhale deeply and shrug your shoulders, lifting them high up to your ears. Shake your head slowly, yes and no. You might as well amuse yourself while you do it to relax even further. Ask yourself silly questions: "Is your boss an idiot?" Move your head up and down, "Yes, yes, yes." Side to side: "No. (Shedding tension is as much mental as physical.)
Loosen the hands with air circles Clench both fists, stretching both hands out in front of you. Make circles in the air, first in one direction, to the count of ten. Then reverse the circles. Shake out the hands. Point your fingers -- good for hands, wrist, and forearms Stretch your left hand out in front of you, pointing fingers toward the floor. Use your right hand to increase the stretch, pushing your fingers down and toward the body. Do the same with the other hand. Now stretch your left hand out straight in front, wrist bent, with fingers pointing skyward. Use your right hand to increase the stretch, pulling the fingers back toward your body. Do the same on the other side. Release the upper body with a torso twist Inhale and as you exhale, turn to the right and grab the back of your chair with your right hand, and grab the arm of the chair with your left. With eyes level, use your grasp on the chair to help twist your torso around as far to the back of the room as possible.
Hold the twist and let your eyes continue the stretch -- see how far around the room you can peer. Slowly come back to facing forward. Repeat on the other side. Do leg extensions -- work the abs and legs Grab the seat of your chair to brace yourself and extend your legs straight out in front of you so they are parallel to the floor. Flex and point your toes five times. Stretch your back with a "big hug" Hug your body, placing the right hand on your left shoulder and the left hand on your right shoulder. Breathe in and out, releasing the area between your shoulder blades. Cross your arms -- for the shoulders and upper back Extend one arm out straight in front of you. With the other hand, grab the elbow of the outstretched arm and pull it across your chest, stretching your shoulder and upper back muscles. Stretch out the other arm in front of you -- repeat. Stretch your back and shoulders with a "leg hug" Sit on the edge of your chair (if it has wheels, wedge the chair against the desk or wall to make sure it does not roll).
Put your feet together, flat on the floor. Lean over, chest to knees, letting your arms dangle loosely to the floor. Now bring your hands behind your legs, right hand grasping left wrist, forearm (or elbow if you can reach that far), left hand grasping the right. Feel the stretch in your back, shoulders and neck. Release your hands to the floor again. Repeat three times or as often as it feels good. Look up to release upper body Sit up tall in your chair, or stand up. Stretch your arms overhead and interlock your fingers. Turn the palms to the ceiling as you lift your chin up, tilt your head back, and gaze up at the ceiling, too. Substitute walks for email -- and don't eat at your desk Instead of emailing a colleague "and copying 25 people who don't want to be copied anyway," Smith says, "walk over to the colleague you really want to talk to." Instead of a lunch meeting at your desk, walk together to a neighborhood sandwich shop. "Talk while you walk -- it's more efficient and productive," Smith says.