10 Reasons to Use an Exercise Ball as Your Chair
When working at a desk for long periods of time [like at work] bad posture and back pains become common place.
One solution I’ve heard bounce around is the use of an exercise ball as a desk chair. It’s height and instability force you to sit up straight, making it hard to slouch.
However, GearFire have a few more suggestions to why you might want to change seats.
2. Causes you to frequently change positions. 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.
Is this the best alternative to ergonomic chairs? What else is out there?
10 Reasons to Use an Exercise Ball as Your Chair – [GearFire]
Also check out this article about exercise balls in classrooms – Fitness Ball Seating in Classrooms Keeps Kids Focused
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Comments
Ben says on April 20th, 2007 at 8:24 pm
This is a great concept. I used to use one of those chairs that equally distribute your weight between your bottom and knees, which was great for a short while, but not for prolonged use.
Leo says on April 22nd, 2007 at 4:13 am
I am not sure if this could improve your work productivity as it will always disturb you and your thoughts. It is better to install some soft on your PC that is switching it off for you to walk around a bit and make your eyes rest a bit.
Qsurg says on April 22nd, 2007 at 10:27 am
How about limiting the amount of time you spend in front of your computer period!
Irene says on April 23rd, 2007 at 2:15 am
I agree that it will help our posture, but with out any side and back support we certainly wouldn’t be able to stay seated there for a long time.
Carl says on April 23rd, 2007 at 10:09 am
I have one of these, but I also have a ‘normal’ office chair. It gets tiring sitting on a ball all day or even for hours at a time. I couldn’t get rid of my normal chair because I needed to focus for at least part of the day.
Jonathan says on April 23rd, 2007 at 8:56 pm
I agree about the need for side support. Without them the hip flexors will become overextended.
Pat says on April 23rd, 2007 at 10:35 pm
The fact that it will help our posture is a good thing, but I am sure that it is tiring. We can’t stay seated with a straight back. Sometimes we need to relax and it’s better if we use our own chair.
foxydot says on April 24th, 2007 at 11:51 am
I use one, and I love it. It is important to ease into sitting on it for long stretches of time, my advice is usually (for the office worker) sit on it 1/2 hour in the morning and 1/2 in the afternoon, after a week, upgrade to four 1/2 sessions, then 6 and so on until you can sit on it all day. The shorter sessions help your muscles build to create the “side and back” support.
The only problem with it is that the plastic doesn’t *breathe*, so you sometimes get an overwarm bum. Also, if I’m eating at my desk (happens far too often these days, not sure how I made time to post this) I prefer to sit on a chair…just in case.
Peter says on April 28th, 2007 at 6:32 am
Better than an Exercise Ball would be a sit-stand desk. This allows you to change your posture and it is very hard to bend over your keyboard when standing without falling.
Chris says on February 27th, 2008 at 2:04 am
This idea has pros and cons but the bottom line is that it may be non-compliant with OH&S ergonomics requirements and general safety provisions (depending on jurisdiction). If you are self employed that’s one thing but if you are an employer you should check out your local OH&S regs before allowing your staff to use these.