An exercise ball (aka swiss ball, physioball, stability ball, etc.) is a great investment because it can be used for a variety of exercises. Whether you are wanting to work on your core, upper body or lower body, you will find that you can use this simple piece of equipment to meet many of your needs. The ball is made of a puncture resistant plastic and comes in different sizes. When determining what size ball is right for you, the general guideline for core exercises (abs and low back muscles) is to have your knees and hips bent at 90 degrees so that your thighs are parallel to the floor when you are sitting on the ball. This is the minimum ball size. Some people prefer a larger ball where their hips are higher than their knees based on comfort. If you have poor balance, a larger ball will provide more stability and support so that the exercises will be easier. The ball can be also be used as an office chair. If you will be using the ball as your office chair, a larger ball may be needed. Another thing to keep in mind is how much you inflate the ball. The ball will be very firm if inflated to its maximum diameter, if it is not fully inflated you will sink a little when sitting on the ball. When using the ball as an office chair, you should get a ball with a maximum diameter that is at least 4 inches greater than your chair height. Sitting on an exercise ball is a challenge as well as a great way to improve your posture. One of the main benefits from using an exercise ball as opposed to doing exercises on a stable surface is that your body is forced to maintain balance because of the instability of the ball. By doing so, you have to engage more muscles to keep balance and most of the time the targeted muscles are the core muscles (abdominal and back muscles). So what are you waiting for.... purchase your exercise ball today to improve your balance and posture!
Joint Ventures' Blog