Fitness Ball

by Stuart A. Beckwith ~ Last Updated:

Most people dream of getting into shape, losing weight, and exercising more. It can mean signing up at local gyms. However, many fitness enthusiasts prefer to purchase home fitness equipment that can be effective for them. they can take the benefits of a total workout while at homes and within flexible times.

One of the best options to consider is buying a fitness ball. It is the time for you to experience a unique workout at home. there are various reasons why this equipment has become very popular. In fact, it is utilized by most physical therapists to treat their patients from back pains.

A fitness ball having a diameter of about 55 to 85 centimeter is made of elastic rubber. It is utilized in exercise and physical therapy. there are various names for a fitness ball such as exercise ball, Pilate's ball, gym ball, therapy ball, balance ball, body ball, yoga ball, sports ball, and Swiss ball.

The major benefit of a fitness ball exercise is enabling the body to respond to the ball's instability while keeping the balance and engaging more muscles as well. Keep in mind that the muscles are strengthened upon struggling to maintain the balance. the core muscles of the body, back muscles, and abdominal muscles are the target of the fitness ball programs of exercises.

Exercises done on a fitness ball will never bore you. In fact it can challenge your stamina, patience, perseverance and, self-discipline. this is the true form of exercising, working the entire core muscles to achieve the best results.

A fitness ball is effective because of its rounded shape. It can create instability to induce your core body muscles to work. Compared to floor crunching, the muscles that are only working are the upper abs, but when you do the crunching on a fitness ball, the core muscles including abs muscles, back muscles, pelvic muscles, and hip muscles are working together in helping you stay on the ball.

Try doing a few pushups using a fitness ball, your hands on the floor and your feet on the fitness ball or vice versa. this exercise gives more stability when the feet are spread apart and tougher when the feet are put closely together.

Although a fitness ball provides many advantages, there are also some pitfalls especially if overused. Strength coaches revealed that it can cause injury and approximately 70 percent of fitness ball exercises are considered worthless. Nevertheless, it is still prescribed by some therapists in treating patients with back pain.

Incorporating a fitness ball in your fitness program can mean surpassing all the difficult levels involved during the exercise. Each requires support from your stomach muscles and back to help in keeping the trunk muscles firm. More often, a fitness ball is good for people who have lower back pain. Other uses include developing overall strength and control of the body's core muscles, increasing the strength of back and abdominal muscles, learning proper posture and body mechanics when lifting objects, and increasing mobility of the lower back.

Exercise Ball In The News


 Easy Ways to Prepare Your Child for Little League Tee Ball - Associated Content

Thu, 02 Sep 2010 18:02:00 GMT

This exercise will not only teach them a fundamental concept of baseball, but will help get them in shape and improve their sprinting speed. Catch the Ball Simply playing catch a few times a week can go a long way to ...


 Gaiam's latest exercise tool hopes to be a Step360 to better balance - Washington Post

Wed, 18 Aug 2010 23:56:00 GMT

... exercise equipment in recent history ... especially if he ends with alternating jumping lunges with a medicine ball. Whew. Whether Step360 actually has legs, however, is up in the air. Plenty of fitness devices ...


 Bob Wilcher: Exercise Vs. Diet for Weight Loss - Noozhawk

Fri, 03 Sep 2010 01:04:00 GMT

... exercise, then that extra 500 calories will come from previously stored fat and provide ... but it’s not the entire ball of wax. Getting fit and improving the function of your heart, lungs and entire ...


 Exercise your grey matter in Ragdale Hall’s Mind Gym - Ethiopian Review

Wed, 25 Aug 2010 11:09:00 GMT

... exercise the body, muscle and bone will deteriorate with age ... There’s even a state-of-the-art game-table that allows you to move a ball by simply controlling your thoughts. Dean has the final word, “


 Medicine ball: Good treatment for toning, strength and power - Press Republican

Tue, 31 Aug 2010 07:27:00 GMT

A simple exercise is to hold the medball overhead and, with your abs held tight, throw the ball straight down into the ground in front of you, then allow it to bounce back up. Be careful on the rebound as it can come ...