Exercise Ball

Exercise ball is also named fitness ball, swiss ball, stability ball or yoga ball. You can easily use the exercise ball in the comfort of your own home or your office!

Exercise ball is such a simple concept. Using the exercise ball is a safe and very effective exercise tool. This method is far from being a fad and is guaranteed to provide an enjoyable exercise alternative for both young and old, catering for the occasional home user to the elite athlete.

The exercise ball (or 'Swiss Ball' as it was commonly known as when first introduced) originated in Europe. In the 1960's, therapists in Switzerland used balls as a tool in the area of physical rehabilitation. Techniques were designed to aid in therapy for children with neurological problems.

The techniques have evolved and the client group has expanded to include adults with mobility problems, people with back injuries, the fitness industry, pregnant women, seniors, the classroom and even in the workplace.

The exercise ball variety have a matte finish and are soft and comfortable to lie on. The balls have a weight tolerance of 300kg, and the PVC used for making the balls is of Burst Resistant Quality and latex free.

The general rule for choosing the correct exercise ball size for core exercises is having your knees and hips bent to 90 degrees (thighs parallel to floor) when sitting on the ball. This is the minimum ball size--some people prefer a larger ball, where hips are higher than knees. Don't go by photos of models sitting on balls. Typically they sit on a ball much larger than they would train on as it photographs better.

Consider how you will use the ball and your body characteristics (see below). Also, keep in mind that if you are a novice exerciser and/or have poor balance, a larger ball will provide more stability and support, thus making exercising easier (muscles won't work as hard).

To avoid being disappointed that your exercise ball is smaller than you expected, test out the ball size before placing an order. Most people underinflate a ball because they are so firm (like a rock) inflated to its maximum diameter. To see if a 55cm ball is right for you, place a mark on a wall 20 inches high (16 in. for a 45cm ball), and squat next to it. Consider that you will sink down a few inches (depending on your weight and amount of inflation). This is approximately how tall the ball will be when sitting on it. Get a larger size if you don't like this height!

GENERAL GUIDELINES:

Core/Spinal Stabilisation refers to the interaction of deep spinal muscles (quadratus lumborum, internal oblique deep fibres, transversus abdominus, multifidus.) which support the spine during our normal daily activity.

The more visible muscles, rectus abdominus, internal and external obliques, all contribute to the highly regarded "6-pack", however they do not support the spine during sport or work. It is only when training is carried out in an unstable environment, such as on the ball, that the deep core stabilisers are brought into play. The stabilisers are strengthened in a very functional manner, ready to provide a strong platform for the wide range of movement needed in sport and daily life. Many trainers and fitness professionals have now realised the important role that core stabilisers play in preventing injury, improving posture and appearance and they are incorporating exercises for this important muscle group into training or fitness programmes.

The best method of improving core stability is to train in an unstable environment. So at the heart of the exercise ball concept is the ball's instability and mobility. Exercise ball is a dynamic tool. Performing traditional exercises (eg biceps curls) on the ball call in the deep stabilisers, resulting in training of both the biceps and the postural muscles. This has an overflow effect on posture and contributes to injury prevention in everyday life. Using the ball's mobility allows you to do excellent stretches and increase flexibility.

The most important aspect of exercising the core stabilisers is PREVENTION. Exercise ball is the tool that can prevent sport and back injuries across a wide fitness and age range. For adults and children, whether at work, the health club, or school, strengthening your core stabilising is easy, simply by using a big, round ball. The simplest way of using an exercise ball for prevention of back injury is to use it as a chair, commonly known as 'Active Sitting'. Active sitting is a practical way of incorporating core stabilisation into daily life. There are many benefits in utilising an exercise ball as seats: decreased back strain, improved concentration and better posture.

Long-term endurance training of spinal stabilisers will work towards the prevention of postural problems, back pain and sport injuries. For employers, a small investment in preventative back care will reap large rewards.