About Exercise Balls

An exercise ball is an inflated ball made from soft plastic. Exercise balls can range in size from 14 to 34 inches. Exercise balls are primarily used as an exercise tool, to aid in physical therapy and in some kinds of athletic training.

Exercise balls are also known as "Swiss Balls," "birth balls," "balance balls," "fitness balls," "stability balls," "body balls" and "sports balls." An exercise ball is similar to a medicine ball, however a medicine ball is smaller and is weighted.

History

The first exercise ball invented was known as a "Pezzi Ball." This ball was invented in 1963 by a plastic manufacturer in Italy named Aquilino Cosani. These balls were used to treat and help babies in need of physical therapy in Switzerland. Over time the balls were gradually used to treat other patients as well and when American professionals began to use the exercise balls as well, they referred to them as "Swiss Balls" in reference to where the balls were first used.

Function

Exercise balls work to build body strength by placing the body in an unstable situation and forcing the body to respond to the instability. When a person performs certain exercises while sitting or laying on an exercise ball, there is added difficulty. Not only does the person perform the exercise, but while exercising she must also focus on staying on the ball. This utilizes the core muscle group and builds these muscles. Core muscles are the muscles in the mid-section of the body in both the abdomen and lower back.

Exercises

Exercise balls can be used for weight training by sitting on the exercise ball while lifting weight bars or dumb bells. Exercise balls can also be used while performing traditional abdominal sit-ups and crunches. When these exercises are performed while on the ball, they are more challenging. Exercise balls are also used as tools for stretching while performing some yoga or pilates exercises.

Uses

Exercise balls also make comfortable chairs. Not only are they comfortable, however, but sitting on an exercise ball instead of a traditional office chair can help build back and abdominal muscles. This is because the body is forced to maintain balance and comfortable posture while sitting on the exercise ball.

Benefits

Exercise balls can be used to assist laboring women during child birth. When a woman in labor sits on an exercise ball and bounces gently, the pelvis can be opened to an angle that encourages the baby to descend through the pelvis more easily and quickly. Many women find that gentle bouncing on an exercise ball is a comfortable way to labor.

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