Exercise ball
A sitting ball is a fun and active alternative to a regular chair. On the one hand, the open hip angle improves posture, and on the other, the ball creates a very dynamic sitting pattern. Moreover, it can be used for all sorts of exercises. However, a sitting ball requires more space, and the work surface must be higher than with a traditional office chair. A work surface that's too low can cause people to hunch over.
Exercise balls obviously don't have lumbar support and are therefore not suitable for sitting on for long periods of time. Combine an exercise ball with a regular chair, for example, or take a short walk.
The size of the ball must be perfectly matched to your height. Therefore, exercise balls are available in different sizes (45, 55, 65, 75, and 85 cm diameter). If you need an intermediate size, it's best to choose the larger size, which inflates less. The idea is to sit at the front of an exercise ball. The closer you sit to the center of the ball, the more you'll fall back into a classic sitting position (with a classic right angle between your legs and torso). And at the back, you simply roll off... The exercise ball is an inexpensive solution for mobile sitting. Exercise balls are available with a frame and wheels, and even a backrest. This is a particularly bad idea because it eliminates the rolling motion. Also, be careful: not all balls are exercise balls. The material must be strong enough to ensure the correct height. For example, a pregnancy ball is very soft, allowing you to rock back and forth in a relaxed manner.
Exercise balls are very strong but don't tolerate point loads well: So, sit on them with two people, but without a thumbtack underneath, and don't place them too close to a heat source to prevent the material from melting. If the exercise ball were to become punctured, the better exercise balls use a material that doesn't explode when punctured, but rather deflates slowly.
A sitting ball as an office chair?
An exercise ball is a fun and active way to sit, but there are a few things to keep in mind .
It's the most active way to sit, so never do it for too long . Depending on your habit of sitting, your body awareness, and your physical condition, we recommend sitting on an exercise ball for between 10 and 30 minutes.
As mentioned before, it's important to have the correct size exercise ball. The angle between your torso and your legs should be more than 100°!
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Never use an exercise ball with a backrest or on a foot. You'll lose the ball's mobility and quickly develop a slumped posture.
Adjust your desk height ! Sitting correctly on an exercise ball will make you sit higher than a traditional office chair. Therefore, it's essential that the desk height is adjusted to your sitting height (and never the other way around!).
Test it for free at your home
If you'd like to be completely convinced that a document holder can be a valuable asset for you, you can try it out for free at home for a week. This way, you'll definitely avoid a bad purchase.