Anti-Burst Stability Exercise Balls
Our Anti-Burst stability exercise balls are designed to slowly deflate without bursting if they should become torn or punctured. This safety feature was added so you can be confident that your workout will be as safe as possible and without the risk of the ball bursting. As with any exercise, one should always consult a physician before starting a new routine and we also strongly urge beginning with the guidance of a certified personal trainer.
Stability Exercise Balls were first used in 1965 by a group of physical therapists in Switzerland. This first use is where the common term Swiss Ball came to be. Exercise balls are also commonly known as gymnic balls, gym balls, stability balls, therapy balls and many other names, but the physical benefits and high exercise performance are the same regardless of the name. The reason Exercise Balls are such a powerful workout tool is because they add an element of instability to your routine. When instability is introduced, the body automatically responds by trying to keep balanced on the stability exercise ball. Without really knowing it, exercise on a stability exercise ball will build strength in your back and abdominal core muscles, thus adding an element of a full body workout every time you integrate the ball into your routine. There is very strong evidence that optimum exercise performance is achieved in an unstable environment, and the exercise ball provides an outstanding platform to help strengthen your core and tone your abs, buns and back.
Stability Exercise Ball Uses:
There are many uses for an exercise ball. The list here is only a sampling of what they can be used for...
* Overall Core Stability
* Cardio Workouts
* Rehabilitation Exercises
* Strength Training
* Yoga
* Pilates
* Physical Therapy
* Maternity "Birthing Ball"
* Posture Enhancing (use as a chair)
* Sport Specific Training
* Therapeutic Stretching
The Stability Exercise Ball is now one of the most popular pieces of equipment in the fitness industry, and home use is gaining popularity at an astounding rate.
Finding the right stability exercise ball for you:
In order to effectively workout with a stability exercise ball it is important that you select the right ball size. The guidelines below are the collaboration of physical therapists, personal trainers, and other professionals to help you select the proper stability exercise ball size for you.
When sitting upright on an exercise ball (like a chair) your feet should be flat on the floor with your weight distributed evenly. Your knees should be near level or slightly lower and bent to create a 90 degree angle.
If your height is between 5'1" and 5'8" the probable best fit is the 55cm ball. If your height is between 5'9" and 6'2" the best fit is the 65cm ball. If you are 6'3" or taller, you should be most comfortable with a 75cm ball.
Inflation and Care Instructions for your Stability Exercise Ball:
Here are some tips to help you get started...
The inflation of a stability exercise ball is not entirely a detailed science, as personal preference does play a part in how full or not your ball will be. Keep in mind that Anti-Burst Stability Exercise Balls are made of a heavier material than standard stability balls, so it may take a day or so to stretch into its full size.
Make sure you have all the pieces. Some models include a pump and nozzle as well, but all of our stability exercise balls come with a plug and a pump adaptor. The way to tell the two apart is that the plug is the longer of the two and is not hollow and the adaptor is hollow and has screw threads on it to fit different types of pumps.
Measure 55cm, 65cm or 75cm (depending on your ball size purchased) from the floor up a wall and mark it with a pencil or other easily removed mark.
Inflate your new ball until it feels full, but still has some give in it when you push.
Insert the plug.
Place the ball near the mark you made on the wall. Then by placing a yardstick or other straight flat item on top of the ball so it extends to your wall mark you can see how close you are to maximum inflation.
On first inflation, don't worry if the ball is measuring out small. As mentioned before, it will stretch, so give it until the next day and take another look at it. Don't try to force it to full size on first inflation, please let it stretch naturally. You can naturally speed up the process by sitting and slightly bouncing on your ball (it is a good excuse when watching television: "I'm stretching my new ball and improving my posture"). When you see it the next day, you will probably think it has deflated because of how much it stretched. Now you can add more air until it is the right size and feel for you.
All stability exercise balls require air from time to time and some air loss is not necessarily the sign of a leak. If you do think you may have a leak, but can find no visible or obvious signs, you can check it in a bathtub or swimming pool by holding the ball under water in different spots looking for a stream of bubbles. The most common place for a small leak is the plug, and sometimes simply reinserting it will stop any leaks.
Avoid overexposure to direct sunlight, and always be sure that there are no sharp objects in your workout area. Keeping sharp objects away from your stability exercise ball not only prevents punctures, but also makes a safer overall environment for you. Keep the ball away from extreme heat (such as near a fireplace, heater vent or other heat producing item). Heat can cause the ball to begin melting which will weaken it and can result in the overall failure of the ball at the weakened point. Extreme heat also reduces the effectiveness of the anti-burst safety feature of this product. |