Stability/exercise ball at work?

rbfdac
rbfdac Posts: 1,057 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
Does anybody have any experience using a stability ball/exercise ball at their work desk? I've been having some lower back, hip, and tailbone pain lately that I think is due to my mattress, but I'm not sure. My core is very weak, so I'm going to start adding some exercises into my routine, but in the meantime I'm considering a ball at work. I sit 8 hours a day in a very small office with little room to walk and only have a 30 minute lunch break in a sketchy part of town (no lunch walks). I've read so many mixed reviews about using these balls as chairs. One website will say that it's horrible for your back and can cause damage, etc. while the next one will talk about how amazing it it for your core and posture.

Does anybody have any actual experience?

Replies

  • JoRocka
    JoRocka Posts: 17,525 Member
    You should get a new mattress if you think that's the problem.

    I have a stability ball I sit on at work. I don't think it causes me any problems at all- I fidget way to much to sit on it regularly- but now with SI joint issues I find I use it more often. I don't think it's AMAZING for my core and posture- but it's a nice change of pace.
  • rbfdac
    rbfdac Posts: 1,057 Member
    JoRocka wrote: »
    You should get a new mattress if you think that's the problem.

    I have a stability ball I sit on at work. I don't think it causes me any problems at all- I fidget way to much to sit on it regularly- but now with SI joint issues I find I use it more often. I don't think it's AMAZING for my core and posture- but it's a nice change of pace.


    I agree, but I'm not sure if it is my issue and a California King size mattress is quite pricey! (Ours was a hand me down)

    Thank your for your response! +1 for the ball
  • treehopper1987
    treehopper1987 Posts: 505 Member
    So, I'll ask a weird question... Do you sleep on your belly? Is the mattress soft? If yes to both, then get a new mattress. I know they are pricey, but my husband and I had to due to the mattress screwing my back up. Good luck!
  • SonyaCele
    SonyaCele Posts: 2,841 Member
    i just sit with good posture in my office chair and its does the same thing for me that a stability ball would.
  • Azdak
    Azdak Posts: 8,281 Member
    All exercise training occurs as an adaptation to an external "load". The problem with stability balls as chairs is that whatever "load" it imposes plateaus very quickly, after which you are no longer "training"-- just looking goofy sitting on a ball. Basically, it's one of those things that sounds good in theory, but doesn't live up to the hype in reality.
  • SonyaCele
    SonyaCele Posts: 2,841 Member
    i never thought of exercise balls as training, unless i'm in some weird pose on one with 45 pound dumbbells in each hand. Sitting on one at work is more to just remind you to not slouch , keep your posture, keep your core engaged etc. there is not much "training" going on for that purpose. its more of a reminder to drill in muscle memory and make good posture automatic. you can do that without or without a ball. If you just keep your core engaged as often as you can remember, that will increase core strength just by the mere fact you have it fired up. a tight core is a strong core.
    yeah if you just sit on the ball , you're just gonna sit there and look goofy. it takes a conscious effort to make anything effective.
  • Panda_Poptarts
    Panda_Poptarts Posts: 971 Member
    I use a stability ball periodically. If you get one, I recommend the Gold's Gym Stayball. In addition to being relatively inexpensive, it has sand in it to prevent it from rolling around too much. I switch out my ball with a desk chair when I want to slouch - sitting up with an engaged core for 8 hours can be exhausting.

    I find the ball particularly useful in the day or two following a particularly hard core exercise. On those days, slouching just makes back pain worse, so the posture is appreciated.
  • MeanderingMammal
    MeanderingMammal Posts: 7,866 Member
    I use one when I work at home. I'm a consultant so having it at work isn't an option.

    I find it pretty comfortable and it does encourage a better posture. No idea if that's a placebo effect or not.
  • arditarose
    arditarose Posts: 15,573 Member
    Are you noticing and muscle soreness in your glutes as well? What you're describing sounds like piriformis syndrome. I get that and use a foam roller to fix it up.
  • zoemay101
    zoemay101 Posts: 24 Member
    You can find yoga workouts that you can do without a yoga mat if you don't have the space. Yoga for your lunch break, office yoga, that kind of thing. Not sure if that'd be too much for your back to do gentle yoga for your posture and strengthen your core?
  • zoemay101
    zoemay101 Posts: 24 Member
    Sorry, my response was a little off from what you asked about. I am not sure on the ball thing. I nearly brought one to work during pregnancy for low back pain but didn't find it that comfy at home so just didn't bother. I hope your back feels better soon.

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