Frequently Asked Questions

Can sitting on a ball cure my back pain?
It can certainly help. "Cure" is a pretty strong word, but some medical studies have shown that sitting on a ball can be an effective treatment. And there is plenty of anecdotal evidence from back pain sufferers and physical therapists indicating that it does indeed work.

Why does sitting on a ball help my back?
The main reason is that it encourages "active sitting" rather than passive sitting. The ball will support your weight completely, but balancing will require you to use the small muscles in your legs, abdomen and back. These muscles are all too often neglected, and when they become weak, your posture suffers.

How does sitting on a ball help my brain?
The same instability that works the small muscles of your body also works the "small muscles" of your brain-- that is, it keeps your proprioceptive sense working in the background, promoting alertness in your conscious mind.

What is proprioception, and what does it have to do with sitting on an exercise ball?
Proprioception is the sense of the relative position of neighboring parts of the body, and is essentially a feedback mechanism that keeps you balanced. The proprioceptive sense integrates balance information from your inner ear with stretch receptors in your joints and muscles, and works automatically.
Sitting on a balance ball makes your proprioceptive sense work a little harder than usual, but doesn't interfere with your conscious mind (once you are used to it, that is). This raises your level of alertness a little, helping you remain focused on monotonous tasks for a longer time.

Does the medical community support sitting on exercise balls?
Yes, for the most part. Even though there haven't been very many studies done, many physical therapists recommend the ball based on their own experiences and other anecdotal evidence. Exercise balls are also widely used in physical therapy and training, and are a part of nearly every fitness instructor's tool kit.
Some experts point out, however, that sitting on a ball does not guarantee improvement. You must use it properly-- it's easily possible to slouch, use the wrong size ball, or spend too much time on the ball at first. Doing these things will make it hard or impossible to reap the benefits.

Is there a special technique involved in sitting on an exercise ball?
Yes, sort of. Using the right size ball, sitting up straight and transitioning to the ball gradually are important factors. Refer to the page Using The Ball Properly for more details.

What are the dangers of sitting on an exercise ball?
The most obvious danger is that you could roll off the ball and hurt your back, which might be amusing to your coworkers but would do serious damage and negate the health benefits of using a ball in the first place. Before choosing a ball as your seat, you will need to have at least a modicum of fitness and a sense of balance.
Another hazard is to your coworkers; if you get up and let your ball roll around the office, someone could trip over it.

How long will I have to sit on the ball for my back pain to decrease or go away?
This will depend on your fitness level, your level of back pain, and the amount of time you spend on the ball. Some people see results within a couple weeks, others take longer.

What about the ball chair?
For some people, sitting on a ball would be a little too challenging for their level of fitness. A ball chair gives lower back support and can prevent you from falling over backwards. The disadvantage to a ball chair is that the back support allows your muscles to relax too much and doesn't work toward strengthening them.

What else can I use the ball for?
The primary use for an exercise ball is to perform stretches and exercises that strengthen your core muscles. This means that if you sit on a ball at work, and your boss allows it, you can perform a reinvigorating set of exercises on your breaks without having to travel to a gym.
The smaller balls work surprisingly well as footrests while you are watching TV or working on a laptop computer.

Are they easy to inflate and deflate?
Yes, and most of them come with a handy pump. It takes 2-5 minutes to pump one up.

Are they strong?
Yes, all the exercise balls sold on this website are made of heavy-duty material, usually heavy gauge PVC vinyl. They are burst resistant, which means that if a puncture occurs, the ball will deflate slowly enough for you to just stand up, and will not drop you on the floor. Most are designed to support over 400 pounds.