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.It's become common for exercise balls to be used as office chairs. Exercise balls were originally developed to help users build strength in the core muscles of the stomach and back. This Day in History Learn something new every day These 10 facts about space will blow your mind Top 10 facts about the world Adorable animal families that will make you "aww" Top 10 amazing movie makeup transformations Top 10 unbelievable historical concurrencies These 10 animal facts will amaze you 10 most extreme places on Earth 10 hilariously insightful foreign words You won't believe these 10 facts about people
Can you see through these real-life optical illusions? The exercise ball office chair has become popular as an ergonomic office chair or office chair alternative for its ability to improve posture, reduce stress to the spinal cord and provide core strength training. Consumers should look for an exercise ball that is lightweight, stable, well made from an anti-burst material, and developed by a reputable company. Customers should also choose an exercise ball office chair that fits their height and weight and promotes their overall back and spine health. Many companies also make exercise ball bases and chairs with exercise balls as the seat to provide the stability and flexibility that some customers want from a chair. When sitting on a stability ball, the user’s legs should be at a slightly downward slope, or an angle greater than 90 degrees. Look for a ball that inflates to at least 4 inches (10 cm) greater than the height of your existing chair so that, even when the ball sinks in from your weight, you will still be at a comfortable height.
Customers should also take into consideration the length of their legs and the height of their desk when wanting to use an exercise ball as a chair. Buyers should purchase a ball that is one size bigger than the recommended size for use as a workout tool so their legs are slightly higher than the 90° angle recommended for ball exercises. A 65 cm ball will usually be the right fit for most people around 5 feet, 7 inches (about 1.7 m) tall and of average weight. Customers who are less than 5 feet, 3 inches (about 1.6 m) will usually require a 55 cm or 45 cm exercise ball. If you are more than 6 feet, 3 inches (about 1.9 m) tall, a 75 cm or 85 cm ball should allow your body to be in the correct position. Customers can make small adjustments to the firmness and height of the ball by inflating or deflating the ball until they find the right fit. If wanting to use an exercise ball as an ergonomic office chair, you may want to purchase a ball base or a chair that has been made with an exercise ball as the seat to have complete control over the height, position and tilt of the chair.
You also will have the added benefit of a swivel function and locking wheels. Buyers should make sure the exercise ball office chair is easily adjusted to fit their individual body type and that they are still able to benefit from the posture, core training and balance benefits of an exercise ball. Using an exercise ball office chair forces your body to align itself in the body’s naturally occurring posture, while traditional office chairs create a rigid posture for you. You are constantly balancing and readjusting your position, so the exercise ball office chair helps you to strengthen your abdominal, back and leg muscles, which are stimulated through the tiny readjusting movements for balance. These small adjustments improve your overall health by keep your body active and your blood circulating throughout the day. You might also Like @talentryto- Thanks for the tip. I would also like to add that the best exercise ball for working at a desk all day is a firm one. This type of ball will still provide the positive effects of using it for an office chair without being too soft for you to reach your desk.