When it comes to comfort and stability, it seems like an exercise ball is the last thing you’d want. Surely, a chair offers more stability and better health for the back? Well, this may not be the case. Unfortunately, when office workers have a chair, they tend to slump against the back support or slouch forward – very few people use a strong posture when sitting in an office chair.
With this, more workers and businesses are now switching to exercise balls to replace chairs in the office.
Benefits of Exercise Balls
Perhaps the most common reason for switching out an office chair for an exercise ball is that it engages the core. With no back support, users have to engage the core to stay balanced and normally use a stronger posture as a result. Although it sounds counter-intuitive, workers are more likely to sit in a good posture with an exercise ball than a traditional office chair.
If you want to prevent falling off and everybody laughing as they hear the thump of your body hitting the floor, you’ll need to engage the core for stability and balance. Over the working day, this emphasis on stability and balance will improve both. Suddenly, you’ll feel a better balance and stability not just sitting but standing and walking too.
What’s more, a strong core means less reliance on the lower back and a stronger posture. Of course, lower back injuries cause significant problems for both workers and businesses every single year. According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, 181,000 people were forced to visit hospital between 2017 and 2018 because of back pain. What’s more, the second-most leading cause of disease burden in the country is now back pain.
As well as causing all sorts of problems for workers, this costs Australian businesses millions of dollars each and every year. Workers are forced to take time away from work and the business suffers a loss of productivity. In severe cases, problems extend to the muscles, nerves, joints, bones, and connective tissues throughout the lower back area.
With a stronger core, the lower back is protected, and employees are healthier. They don’t need so much medical attention and businesses lose fewer working hours each year.
In 2012, the University of New Hampshire completed a study and found that workers could even burn slightly more calories on an exercise ball compared to an office chair.
Finally, owning an exercise ball means that office workers are more likely to use them for other purposes other than just sitting. Many surveys have pointed to workers taking the ball home for exercise and this is good for the individual too. Once again, they’re healthier and this benefits the business as much as the workers.
Choosing an Exercise Ball
To benefit from an exercise ball, you need to choose the right combination of desk and ball. If you run a business, consider a Hurdley’s office desk to accommodate this new working practice. If you’re an employee, speak with your employer and encourage them to consider this change.
When choosing between the different products, look for brand names and product reviews. While some stability or exercise balls are certainly more affordable, their low cost could lead to problems in the future. It’s better to invest a little more for quality than research a replacement two months down the line.
Also, remember that people with medical conditions should consult a medical professional before making large changes. Exercise balls don’t benefit everybody, and there are some drawbacks to the idea, but they’re replacing office chairs for others.
