Best Stability / Physio / Balance / Swiss Ball Review

Using a stability ball is actually quite simple, once you learn the basics. Stability balls are actually a great tool for treating lower back pain, and even sciatica, because the ball will strengthen your core and the muscles surrounding your spine for better support and less pain. Yet, many people struggle with starting to use the ball. We will describe the basics of using these balls, and once you master those basics, more sophisticated movements will become as easy as the basic movements are.

First, you must master sitting on the stability ball. We know this sounds silly, but this starting movement is essential if you don't want to fall off the ball and hurt yourself. This super simple exercise still requires the use of your core muscles, because they need to keep you upright and well-balanced. If you struggle with sitting on the ball, try letting some air out so the ball becomes softer. This will make the ball stabler, and you won't need to struggle so much to just sit on it.

There's a proper form you should obtain here, just like with every other form of exercising. You must make sure to sit at the center of the ball, with both of your feet placed flat and firm on the floor. Keep your knees at a 90-degree angle, and keep them in line with your ankles. Do not hunch forward or sit with your body leaning backward!

Remember to keep your neck and head straight too! Once you know how to do this, you can then start to try working from these balls as chairs. Some people like to sit on them to watch their TV, read books, or do anything that requires you to sit down since it's a much healthier alternative to a regular chair or couch. Once you feel comfortable with sitting on this ball, without losing balance or falling down at all, it's time to start learning some exercises you can do on them!

The best way to start using the ball is simply bouncing on it. Don't let the simplicity of this exercise deceive you! First, try to bounce just a little bit, about an inch or so. Engage your abdominal muscles by tucking in your belly when you bounce! Once you know how to bounce properly, you can try engaging your arms, and you can even add some free weights or resistance bands to keep things interesting!

How effective can sitting and bouncing slightly on a ball really be? This one silly exercise actually has many benefits for you! First things first, an exercise ball is great for your spine, as it will support it as you stretch out and workout. This is exactly why these balls are used as part of physio and rehabilitation programs. Many people experience back pain and cramps simply because of their job and everyday lives, and the ball is an excellent way to relive that pressure - all you have to do is simply lay across it and stretch out to feel the benefits!

The swiss ball also keeps your core stable and strong. this is vital because you basically use your core every day - when you run, when you walk when you lift heavy objects when you throw stuff around, and everything else in between, and a weak core won't be able to support all of that. A strong and powerful core will fix your posture and give you a better sense of balance. The pelvic floor muscles also develop when you use an exercise ball. All you have to do is just bring your feet closer to each other when sitting on the ball to engage these muscles.

An exercise ball will keep the development of your muscles balanced. Muscle imbalance is a big problem nowadays because people tend to favor one side of their body to do simple tasks. Also, the muscles sitting on the front of your body tend to be more developed than the muscles of the back of your body. The ball will work mostly on your back muscles and supporting muscles, so when you're done using it you will exit as a well-balanced machine!

The size of the ball you choose is arguably one of the most important factors. This is because taller people need bigger balls, while shorter people would do better with a smaller one. If you get a ball that is not suited for you, you won't be able to do any of the exercises correctly, which can result in falling over, aching joints and much more. And what's even worse, you won't even feel any of the benefits associated with using exercise balls!

If you are not taller than five feet, you would do best with a ball that is extra small, up to 45 cm when fully inflated. This size also works well for children, so if you have a child that wants to give exercise balls a try, you can go for little exercise balls.

If you are between 5'1" and 5'8" tall, a small ball is what you're going to be looking for. You must keep your knees bent at a 90-degree angle, and a bigger ball will not allow you to do this. If you are up to 6'2" tall, a medium ball is what you should aim for. If your legs are longer than what is standard for your height, or if you have some additional back problems, you might need a bigger ball. If you plan to use it as a seat, for yoga or pilates, a bigger ball is something you should again go for. If your height ranges from 6'3 to 6'7", go for a large ball that has a 75 cm diameter. And if you are very tall, use a super large ball that has an 85 cm diameter!

The exercise ball you're going to be buying needs to be able to withstand a lot of squeezing and pressure! The durability of your ball will be affected by many things, but it will be affected by the material it is made out of and your weight the most.

Make sure to go for a ball that is made out of anti-burst materials. This material makes sure that your ball slowly deflates instead of bursting if it accidentally gets punctured or torn. This is important because if it just pops like a balloon it might cause a fall and injury. The anti-burst rating of the ball should also tell you how much weight can it withstand.

If you want to use weights while working out with the ball, go for a high rating, over 1000 pounds or so. Some balls will have a static or dynamic weight rating. The static weight rating tells you how much weight the ball can take if you're only sitting on it, and nothing more. The dynamic weight rating shows you how much the ball can take if you're bouncing, using weights, or just moving before it bursts. You must maintain the ball and use it properly because even the highest-rated balls can burst if you fail to do so!

How many features can a simple ball have? It's just ball, there's nothing much to say about it, right? Well, your simple exercise ball can actually come equipped with a lot of features that make it even better!

The first feature to look out for is the texture of the ball. Some exercise balls are smooth, others are dimpled, with a matte surface and so on and so forth. The smoother the ball is, the easier it will be for it to slide around when you use it! You must remember that combining a smooth ball with sweat is a recipe for an early fall, so make sure to wipe the sweat away if you choose a slick ball.

Yoga balls are usually textured to keep you from slipping. The texture of the floor combined with the texture of the ball is also something to consider. You don't want your exercise ball to fly around as you use it, but you don't want it to be stuck to the floor either! Some balls come with rings that act as a seat to place the ball on, to keep it from rolling away. This is useful if you plan on working from the ball, or if you just want to sit on it.

Resistance bands sometimes come together with the exercise balls and rings, and you can attach them to the ring to work on your other muscles while you balance yourself on the ball. If you feel lost and don't know which exercise to do first, don't worry, since most exercise balls come with instructional posters and DVD guides!

The last thing to look out for when buying your exercise ball is whether it comes with a free pump or not. Every producer will ship the ball to you deflated, and you will have to inflate it by yourself. If they include an air pump with your purchase that makes setting it up much easier, and you don't have to make an unwanted trip to the hardware store to get a pump!