Should You Be Sitting on a Core Ball Right Now?

Core balls–also known as physio balls, exercise balls, or yoga balls– seem to be everywhere lately.  What was once just a staple at the gym has morphed into something you see at work and even in some schools.

Using exercise balls while exercising can provide some amazing benefits such as back and spine health, core stability, better posture and muscle balance.  It only seems logical that using them more frequently or for longer periods of time could help even more.  This may not necessarily be the case though.

Is Sitting on an Exercise Ball Good for You?

While many people argue that sitting on an exercise ball throughout the day will engage the abdominal muscles which in turn will burn more calories, increase core strength and improve balance, posture and stability, there are risks associated with this.  When sitting for prolonged periods of time, chairs are supposed to provide support and take pressure off the lower back which will lessen muscle discomfort and fatigue.  Constantly engaging your muscles on an exercise ball can not only increase fatigue, but make back pain worse.

Busting Core Ball Myths

Here are three exercise ball myths that were busted by Healthy Alberta:

Myth #1:  You Should Sit on the Ball for a Prolonged Period

• Truth:  The longer you sit, the greater the pressure on your back.  This will lead to greater discomfort in your lower back.

Myth #2:  Sitting on a Ball will Fix Your Posture

• Truth:  You’re just as likely to slump on a ball as you are in a chair; however, the ball is worse because you don’t have any lower back support.

Myth #3:  You Can’t Get a Good Core Workout by Just Sitting

• Truth:  Research has shown the amount your muscles work isn’t much different in a chair vs. on a ball.  The key is to do “active sitting.”

After busting some exercise ball myths and researching the pros and cons of using an exercise ball as a chair at work, the answer to whether or not you should be sitting on an exercise ball right now is no. We recommend you use the core ball for its intended design–core ball exercises.

An alternative to using a core ball for a passive workout at work is to simply stand up and walk around once in a while or even do deskercise; however, if you already have an exercise ball at work and you truly want to gain some of the benefits of using it outside of your workouts, avoid the “all or nothing” mentality and alternate between the two throughout the day.