Sitting on Ball at Work

You can still slouch on a swiss ball.

I’m doubtful as to the benefits as opposed to getting a lumbar support in a real chair and stopping slouching.

[quote]Vyapada wrote:

I’d like to hear from anyone with other experiences, though.

[/quote]

I got my ball because I really slouch when sitting. Either back, or to one side or the other.

At first, my back could only take about a half-hour on the ball, but now I can sit all day on one.

I can’t see how sitting on a ball is more stressful to ones back than standing all day. But, that’s just my opinion.

Would getting up and walking around every so often achieve the same goal?

I think I’m following this thread; I’ve been looking for some way to push my DL into the 7’s and if you think this will help - great. But I have one question: Sometimes while watching internet porn at work, I like to engage in dynamic effort training for the forearm and hand muscles. This usually involves a bit of a rearward lean in my chair while “training”. If I’m on a stability ball - won’t I induce “muscle confusion” by the submaximal core work from balancing on the ball while using decidedly “dynamic” effort work on my forearms and hands? I would think dynamic effort work could be quite unsafe in this position.

I still don’t see how this is going to help your hip flexors… am I missing something?

[quote]Sxio wrote:
You can still slouch on a swiss ball.

I’m doubtful as to the benefits as opposed to getting a lumbar support in a real chair and stopping slouching. [/quote]

Hey - thanks for the question… it got me wondering about it and so I went looking for some info.

Most of the studies I’ve found don’t note a difference between sitting on a chair or on a ball - in fact according to the ones I’ve linked below ‘discomfort’ was increased by sitting on a ball.

(Numerous other studies also trashed the stability ball for a bunch of other stuff:

Shoulder muscle EMG activity during push up variations on and off a Swiss ball - PubMed )

This was very interesting to me as there seems to be a lack of evidence (on multiple issues) supporting the assertations of my lecturers… I wonder if it is worthwhile following this stuff up…

I too, sit on a ball at work. It’s the best change I’ve ever made, and has helped me in several ways. First of all, I just got out of the army, so I was not used to sitting in a chair all day long, and doing so was causing lower back pain. I also had quite a bit of lower back pain previously, most of which I attribute to the fact that there was a huge muscle imbalance between my lower back and my abs. (I love to deadlift, but I absolutely hate ab work) My abs have become quite a bit tighter and stronger.

I also used to have a bit of a “lean” in my posture, I’m guessing from the imbalance, which has since corrected itself. Anyone who does not know enough about abdominal function should research into it, because doing crunches and the like is not going to significantly strengthen the muscles that keep you erect and straight. These muscles are strengthened by doing things like bridges and similar exercises. Sitting on a ball at work is a great way to keep them working as they were meant to. I will never go back to a chair at work again.