Everybody knows that sitting all day is bad for you.
One of the latest trends in office ergononmics is the use of Yoga balls replace the office chair. Using exercise balls as office chairs seems can help you to get a little extra exercise and develop better posture . Does it a good idea? Let’s find out.
Ergonomics experts find that the idea of sitting on an exercise ball instead of a traditional office chair is that the instability of an exercise ball requires the user to increase trunk muscle activation and thus increase core strength, improve posture and decrease discomfort.
Another benefit ball chair supporters claim is increased calorie burn. When the core is engaged, it shows that the user burns more calories than they would sitting in a traditional office chair.
So, does these benefits are real? Is it smart for you to replace your office chair with an exercise ball?
Let’s find out the scientific evidence.
A look at the scientific evidence behind exercise balls as office chairs
Virtually all of the research points to exercise balls causing more problems than solutions, and most experts recommend sticking to a traditional (ergonomically correct) office chair.
One research found that, “Prolonged sitting on a stability ball does not greatly alter the manner in which an individual sits, yet it appears to increase the level of discomfort.”
Another study found that, “There was no difference in muscle activation profiles of each of the 14 muscles between sitting on the stool and ball. Calculated stability and compression values showed sitting on the ball made no difference in mean response values. The contact area of the seat-user interface was greatest on the exercise ball.”
According to the research that “The use of stability balls as a chair may actually increase the risk of developing low back discomfort and may increase the risk of sustaining an injury due to the unstable nature of the balls.”
Exercise balls should be left for … exercise! And not used for sitting at your desk all day. Use them for small periods of time as part of your fitness and exercise plan.
A better solution is to use Yoga ball at Gym,maybe it can play a bigger role.
