Life’s A Ball
For nearly a decade I taught a course for Physical Therapists called Spinal Stabilization Training. In the course I instructed therapists on how best to achieve core strengthening with their patients. The majority of exercises I prescribed were performed on or with an exercise ball.
When I first began to teach spinal stabilization, exercise balls were novel. Nowadays, you can buy them everywhere from sports stores to discount clothing and home goods merchants. Before you run out and pick yourself up a cheap ball…buyer beware. You get what you pay for. These low grade balls do not maintain their air pressure and deflate even when not in use. First of all, you can not exercise on a mushy ball. Secondly, balls must be ordered in a size that is appropriate for your height. One ball certainly does not fit all. Having had much experience with exercise balls made by different companies, I recommend you buy the same ball I use in my private practice and in my courses. I love this ball! Let me count the ways:
1) Its rubber surface is soft and “sueded” (not slick or slippery), keeping you on the ball and in your proper exercise position.
2) It HOLDS ITS AIR!!! So many balls deflate in a week’s time and get soft. I haven’t had to add air to mine in over a year. 3) It is puncture resistant. Even if intentionally punctured with a knife, it will slowly deflate, causing no risk of injury to the person using it.
4) It is Latex-free.
5) The Small and Medium sizes (see chart below) come in a tie-dyed, one of a kind, marbled look. This is because the color is added during the processing. No need to decide on a particular shade. Yet two can be told apart because of their variations.
6) Each ball comes with an exercise brochure, demonstrating 15 ball exercises used to enhance core strengthening, ranging from beginner to advanced level.
Ball Size Your Height Color
22” (55cm) 4’8”-5’5” Multi
26” (65cm) 5’6”-6’0” Multi
30” (75cm) 6’1”-6’7” Black
Starting at $26.95.
| If you are purchasing an exercise ball, then you’ll need a way to blow it up (they come deflated, packed in a box). The best and quickest way is to use an industrial air compressor or an air pump at a service station. If those are not options you can turn to, and you don’t want to spend more on the pump than on the ball, then the next best option is to use this dual action hand pump. |  |
Believe me, I bought a half dozen pump types to find the best one for you. Some blew up the ball quickly but stopped short of blowing the ball up to its necessary firmness. Some were awfully slow. The best one, while taking some effort on your part (consider it a pre-exercise, exercise), allowed for maximal filling for a firm, stable ball, rather than an almost-filled mushy counterpart. It only took my 11 year old 2 minutes flat to pump the ball to full pressure!
*Remember, ball fill guidelines are when you are seated on the ball, your knees should be at a 90º angle, and your hips and knees should be on the same level plane.
If you need a pump, simply check the pump option below.
This item is shipped USPS 2-3 Day Priority Mail.
Note: a 15% restocking fee will be applied to all returns. We can not accept returns once a ball is inflated.
