Truth vs. Myth: Is Using an Exercise Ball to Replace Your Office Chair a Good Idea?by Matt Middlesworth Join +30,000 of Your OHS Peers Get free access to exclusive ergonomics and injury prevention resources. MSD Prevention 101 Workshop Step-by-Step Guides to Recommended Ergonomic Assessment Tools Educational Workplace Athlete HandoutsHealthy Design: 3 Core Engaging Chairs Many of us sit too long. I know I do. From the moment I slip behind the desk in the morning, until well into the evening when I put my Mac to sleep, my posterior is parked in a chair. But there are plenty of studies citing this hour-after-hour sedentary lifestyle, even in an ergonomic task chair, isn't doing our health any favors. So I've been researching a few "active sitting" options, in the hopes of upgrading to something more core-engaging... Buoy: For a few years, exercise ball chair gained traction as an alternative to traditional office chairs, the spherical shape engaging the body's subconscious system to keep the spine upright.
Although the free rolling design is indeed more abdominally engaging than a regular task chair, the design itself wasn't necessarily best suited for a work environment, nor necessarily space efficient. The Buoy takes the same idea and refines the shape to a more streamlined and compact form factor, a weeble-wobble stool which "swivels, turns, tilts, and moves up and down". ergoErgo Seat: if budget is an issue and you're looking to give active sitting a try, the giant plastic spring-shaped ergoErgo Seat is likely your best bet. Designed for users from 5' to 6'4" tall, the vibrantly colored work stool works both in and out of a work environment as a flexible muscle engaging partner whether at a desk or pulled aside for workout duty, as shown in the video up above. Core Chair: this is the task seating I'm most interested in possibly switching over to due to a few notable features incorporated into the design which makes the transition to a non-traditional seat a little more realistic for someone who has used a supportive task chair for years now: 1. the Core Chair retains a small lumbar support, 2) the design is very compact in design and easily rolled under the desk
, out of sight, 3) the swivel action appears dynamic, but still within a realm of controlled motion (I don't want to end up on the floor while leaning back or forward throughout the day). I look forward to the day when I can hit the "Enter" key while in a handstand position. The Core Chair costs $995. (Images and videos as linked above)Even the best laid fitness plans can struggle to survive a hard day in the office. So why not squeeze your gym session into working hours and multitask your way to a dream body? We’ve trawled the market to find the best fitness kit for a desk-based exercise session, from equipment you'll forget you're even using to fast and effective workout tools that you can squeeze into a coffee break or during a boring phone call. And don’t worry, we’ve filtered out anything liable to make you look like a wally in the office (treadmill workstations, we’re looking at you). So make yourself a cuppa, pull up your office chair and get ready to deskercise in style.
1. NSD Powerball Autostart Fusion Pro: £39.84, Amazon For arm toning, this hand-held gyroscope is hard to beat. It works fast – spin it for one to two minutes a few times a day – and won’t take up space. Low impact and high intensity, it can also help with ailments such as RSI. 2. Back App 2.0 chair: from £555.60, Back2 Sitting on this posture-improving stool subtly exercises your back and ab muscles by requiring you to balance. By adjusting the base you can also decrease the stability further to enable specific ab and core exercises. Choose from a range of fabrics. 3. Bodyism exercise band: £11.95, Clean and Lean This resistance band can give you a hip, thigh and core workout without leaving the comfort of your chair. It comes in three different resistance levels. Buy separately or in a multipack. 4. Technogym wellness weights: £123, Technogym These free weights are slim enough to stand on your desk or tuck away in your drawer. More elegant than most, they come with velcro straps, a carry case, exercise manual and warranty.
Choose from 0.5kg or 1kg sets. 5. Fitness Mad Stability Cushion: £22.49, Discount Supplements Pop one of these cushions on your chair to destabilise your seat, working your abs and core. It can also be used separately for core strength exercises by kneeling or standing on it. 6. Reebok ankle weights: £12.27, Amazon Discreetly work out by strapping on some of these and doing a few under-desk leg lifts. They’re easy to adjust and available in 0.5kg, 1kg and 1.kg. 7. The Friendly Swede Egg-shaped hand exercise balls: £14.99 Squeezing these can help relieve tension and stress while strengthening your hands, wrists and forearms. They come in a pack with three different resistance levels. 8. Pro Fitness mini exercise bike: £34.99, Argos For a leg workout with a side of cardio, slide this under your desk and pedal while you type. Or move it onto the desk for a (less discreet) arm workout. This fitness tracker will buzz when you’ve been inactive for 55 minutes, reminding you to get up.
Tracking your steps and activity, it will let you know when you stray from your fitness goals. This standing desk helps you to move more in the day. It sits on top of your normal workstation and can be easily adjusted between sitting and standing position. For all over toning the Powerball and Bodyism exercise band make a great team. But if you’ve got the cash and are looking for an all round healthier way to spend your days in the office then the Back App 2.0 is a smart and subtle way to boost your health and fitness without even trying.Below you will find our reviews of the best exercise ball chairs available on the market today. Our team evaluated these products based on the following factors: The market offers a number of excellent products for sale. However, we have some very good reasons why we chose our top 5. They really stand head and shoulders over the others in terms of quality and benefits to its users. If by chance you’ve used any of these products, please leave a comment to add to our discussion.
This is an all-around great product. It’s Mike, Kelly and Edward’s favorite. The Gaiam Custom Fit really stands above the rest. Currently, it’s the finest product of its kind available in the market. Gaiam is a reputable and well-known manufacturer of yoga products that are very high quality, including mats, blocks and many other items. When the Gaiam Custom Fit was first introduced into the marketplace, our expectations were very high. Gaiam didn’t just meet our expectations. The patented yoga balance ball made by Gaiam serves as the Gaiam Custom Fit’s seat. It’s made of polyurethane, which is a very comfortable, durable and robust material. It locks securely into the steel frame. It can be removed very easily for a quick lunchtime workout. In the free DVD included with the product, you find some quick and effective office workout suggestions. To ensure correct ergonomic positioning, the seat height can be raised or lowered so that it aligns with your monitor, keyboard and desk.
One additional feature that we really like is the lumbar back support. It’s subtle, so it doesn’t encourage you to go back to your unhealthy sitting habits, like reclining. It’s just a little something that says, “I have your back.” Compared to other options, the Custom Fit is quite affordable and offers incredible value in its price range. We really enjoyed testing this particular product. Read the testimonials at Amazon and you’ll see just about everybody else does too. For first-time users, in particular, it’s your best choice. Buy Now on Amazon – or – Read Full Article This is another product that blew us away in terms of quality. It is Kyle and Maryjane’s favorite. The Isokinetics really is a great product. It’s quite similar, with a couple subtle differences, to the Gaiam Custom Fit, our number 1 choice. A removable, high quality exercise ball is great for performing exercises quickly. Another feature is the lumbar rest with adjustable height.
The base can be raised in 5 increments for adjusting the height while the Custom Fit’s is adjusted in 4 increments. Another nice benefit offered by this product is it comes in several colors, including black, white, purple, red and yellow. The Isokinetic doesn’t include a fitness DVD. However, a measuring tape is provided to help figure out exactly how much it needs to be inflated. A pump is included. Buy Now on Amazon – or – Read Full Article Out of the 5 products we’ve ranked here, this one costs the least. However, in no way does that take away from the quality of this product. The original Gaiam is the first overall product of this kind that was introduced into the marketplace. This product is produced by Gaiam, which is a testament to its high quality. From the beginning, this has been one of the top 5 products for us. It didn’t get surpassed until Gaiam introduced their Custom Fit product. A chiropractor named Dr. Randy Weinzoff helped to design this great product.
Gaiam was looking for a solution that would combine the ergonomic benefits individuals get from using a yoga ball along with the necessary functionality offered by a traditional seat with a wheeled base. If you are looking for an affordable product and one that has gotten the job done since day one, this product is an excellent choice. A pump is included as well. For new users, this product is perfect. If you are looking for a yoga chair without a lot of differences from the seat you are currently using, you should look into the Cando. It even resembles your typical 4-legged seat. It doesn’t have a full rise back rest, but instead a stabilizing lumbar rest. The only thing supported is your lower lumbar spine which encourages your body to maintain proper posture on its own, and builds your core muscles in the process. One unique feature offered by the product is its arm rests. They can be raised or lower to ensure that your forearms are in proper alignment: parallel to the ground.
This allows your wrists to sit gently level with the keyboard and minimizes issues like carpal tunnel The Cando is slightly more expensive compared to other products. For newbies, however, it’s a great option. The product includes a pump. Buy Now on Amazon– or – Read Full Article For teens and college students, this is a really good option. Do you have a problem with getting your teenage to sit straight? If you do, try this product out. Among teens, this it’s a favorite. It features a sleek, black design. It will fit in quite well with nearly any teen bedroom or college dorm room. The lower back rest can be adjusted for both height and depth. The four wheeled base can be locked in place. This will help to prevent there being unnecessary movement. It comes with a pump. The product enables you to take preventative measures to help ensure your children don’t develop spinal problems or back pain down the road. Buy Now on Amazon – or – Read Full Article