Tip: Throw out the office chair and get one of these!

Same thing here. Yoga balls are not allowed at our office because tend to do dumb things on them and then wind up on workers comp.

To any of you who have had your company say no:

If you are in the US, talk to your doctor. Get a note from your doctor that states that you NEED this setup. Your company cannot legally deny it then. If your doctor prescribes it, the company MUST comply.

What an AWESOME idea for kids when they are spending time in front of the TV!

My son has a lot of back/hip problems and he gave up the chair a few months ago and now stands. His back is so much better. I spend a lot of time on my computer at home and I've been standing at my desk for the last two weeks. I'm not just standing there - I'm - either rocking back and forth, doing calf raises or hip circles or some other lower body movement. My husband laughed at me at first but last night he asked if he could have my chair (it's a good one) since I'm not using it any more. I'd like to get a second monitor and then I could use the balance ball when I feel like sitting.

I wonder if I could use one in my surgery(?).

Regarding the Human Resources fellahs who say "Insurance won't allow it", have they actually asked the insurance companies?

In UK we have Health & Safety issues that are dreamed up by 'jobsworths' who have have never referred to HSE.
When asked HSE may well respond, "How else are you going to do it"

Can you ask to see in writing where the insurance company say it is not allowed. - without incurring disciplinary proceedings for impertinence?

Luckily, I am my own boss so if I can figure it out I might give myself permission.

I've tried...my boss won't approve it!

I work from home and have been thinking about getting one of these. For those that have been using them, what are the benefits you've seen?

ETA: and what size do you use?

I have one under my desk. I find it difficult to use when I'm wearing a skirt and heels. On pants days, it's pretty comfortable.

I find it interesting that so many offices ban these. I used to work for a large natural foods market (in the corporate office). Probably 25% of the people had balls for chairs: they even had a pump that everyone could use. I never heard of an injury caused by the ball. Although one guy rolled onto something sharp (paper clip? push pin) and the ball deflated in an instant!

This made me giggle a bit. I worked as a Habilitation Specialtist for Special needs children and we were using one of these balls and I was sitting on it at the time and lost my balance and rolled off backwards and slammed my head into the wall. I ended up with a concussion.
I can see why some places view it as a liability. I have one that I use at home and still to this day I get freaked out on it and I won't use it when I am home alone just in case.

Size depends on height and weight. I got mine at a local sporting goods store, and I just followed the suggestion on the back of the box. I enjoy mine watching TV and working on the computer at home. My back hurts less, and it's great for the ADHD because I'm concentrating on 2 things at once - balancing & whatever else I am doing.

As far as the school thing, a teacher in Austin got them donated from a fitness company for her elementary classroom after getting permission from her principal (using the Mayo study, I assume). She has strict rules about no bouncing, no playing, ect. If you break the rules, you sit in a regular chair or on the floor for the rest of the day. As I understand it, she has had no problems with that after the first week. I think it's a great idea for a variety of reasons, the least of which is helping hyperactive students (like I was!) concentrate.
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This sounds like a great idea for schools! My daughter is always complaining that her back hurts and I don't doubt it!

Okay! I'll tell myself I can't then

i started doing this at my desk after i read this thread yesterday, was starting to get tired when i went home but not too bad, now today, after 3 hours sitting on the ball at my desk my back is definitely tired and I am looking for excuses to get up which is a good thing since studies show a great benefit to getting up every 30 min or so.

I'm a computer person, which means I spend a LOT of time sitting in front of a desk. That also meant a whole lot of not-active moving around time. Thankfully someone gave me this great idea, which I thought i'd share.

One of the best things I did was throw out my office chair and get a yoga ball instead. Not only can I not sit on it for hours at a time like a chair, I'm constantly bouncing around and also needing to sit up straight, and balance myself on the thing. Great core work!

The first week was a bit tiresome (to that point, I sleep a LOT better now), but after that it's freaking great. If you're an office monkey like me, give it a try. You can get a $20 big red yoga ball at a place like Sports Authority. Start a trend in your office!

I did this; the only problem: it's not quite tall enough. Sometimes things on my screens are at the wrong angle, so I can't see them the way I'm meant to. And everyone who walks past my office has to stop and laugh at me because I look so short now.