Posted by Geoff in Export, General | I recently came across this article, which talks about using an exercise ball as your home or office chair. I have used an exercise ball as a chair before, and it was thoroughly enjoyable. Here are some of the benefits of using an exercise ball as your chair. Whether you spend your desk time at the office, or studying at home for that next exam, office ball chairs can help you in many ways. Because an exercise ball is not stable, your body needs to try to balance itself on it. The perfect spinal posture is coincidently the easiest to balance with. Thus, your body will automatically try to align itself into the proper posture. This helps improve your spinal health, and decrease back pains. An exercise ball causes to you to change your position often to balance. For example, if you turn 45 degrees to face the phone, your body will assume a new position. This helps reduce damage caused by prolonged sitting in the same position. Another great thing about using this alternative to a chair, is that you can do stretches or mini-workouts whenever you want, without getting up.
If you’ve ever stuck waiting for a minute or two, you can make productive use of that time with a quick workout or stretch. Because it’s much more convenient, you will probably do it more, thus resulting in better health. This one is very understandable. Sitting on an unstable surface all day will improve your sense of balance, as well as the reactions of your muscles. An overall better balance, that can be observed out of the office. Your body primarily uses your core (abdominal) muscles to help compensate for changes in balance. Thus, your essentially getting a low-key abdominal workout. This may not sound like a lot, but consider the amount of time you spend on your computer at the office, or at home. Those hours can build up, and result in a strengthening of ab muscles. Using an exercise ball will keep the blood flowing to all parts of your body, throughout the day. A desk chair on the other hand, reduces circulation to some parts of the body after prolonged use.
It has been proven that staying in one position, will make you more tired, while moving around and being active with give you more energy. With an exercise ball as a chair, you will feel much more energized after you finish your work. More movement during the day = more calories burnt. Burning 350 calories per day = losing one pound of fat every 10 days. You may not burn quite 350, but nonetheless, it will help you stay fit. Specialized exercise balls designed for sitting usage can range from $15 to $80. Much cheaper than buying an ergonomic chair, which can range anywhere from $100 to $400 and up. Who doesn’t like the idea of bouncing around on an exercise ball all day. Exercise balls are an exciting alternative to chairs, and may just give that spark of fun to your day. Update: I just bought an exercise ball for myself. So far, I am really enjoying it! My only complaint is that in the morning when I am half-awake, it is hard to balance. I found this cheap exercise ball which is great for trying it out, if you don’t want to invest $40-$50 in a ball which you may never actually use.
Also, before you buy, make sure you know what size is right for you. I am about 5 feet, 6 inches, and the 65cm ball fits me well. Your legs should be almost parallel with the ground. If you are above 5ft10 I would go with a 75cm ball. Have you personally had experience with using an exercise ball as a chair? Drop us a comment on how it worked out for you.Your chair is where you sit for countless hours typing, talking on the phone, surfing the Web, and meeting with clients and co–workers. Because you spend so much time in your desk chair, the best way to make the right chair decision is to become familiar with the various parts of this vital piece of furniture. Once you know what to look for, you can choose a model that's comfortable and durable, with features that ensure your safety and well–being. The chair you choose must have adequate upper and lower (or lumbar) back support. An inadequate backrest can put stress on your spine while you're seated, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Division of Safety.
The lower portion of a backrest should provide firm support, yet be curved slightly to follow the natural contour of your spine, according to the University of California, Berkeley's Health Service Department. You should also purchase a chair with a backrest that is adjustable in various ways so you can find a combination of settings that is most comfortable for you. Look for adjustments that allow you to change the amount of lumbar support provided in the backrest, change the angle of the backrest independently from the seat, and tilt the back and the seat together. A chair seat should feel comfortable when you initially sit down, and should remain that way after you've been seated for a significant period of time, according to the Cornell University Human Factors and Ergonomics Research Group. If the seat becomes uncomfortable after prolonged sitting (1–2 hours), the foam padding may not be a high enough density and the contouring may not be the right fit for your body. When you're seated in the chair, make sure there's plenty of room around your hips and thighs — at least an inch of space on either side of your body is recommended by UC Berkeley's Health Services Department.
Also, ensure that your chair's seat supports your thighs, yet the edge of the seat doesn't come in contact with the back of your legs while you're seated. If it does, you'll be unable to lean against the chair's back support. If more than one person in your office will be using the same chair, you'll want to pick a chair that can be adjusted easily. Depending on your work style and requirements, you may not need armrests on your office chair, since they may get in your way as you move around. If you want armrests, UC Berkeley's Health Services Department recommends adjustable padded rests that comfortably support your forearms. The NIH advises that this part of the chair be at least 2 inches wide to provide ample resting area. Armrests that are too high will not allow you to relax your shoulders, causing tension and discomfort. According to UC Berkeley's Health Services Department, long armrests can prevent you from getting close enough to your desk and may cause back discomfort if you're continually leaning over.