I came across an e-mail in my inbox that questioned the safety and benefits (if any) of using a stability ball vs a chair in the workplace. As a exercise physiologist that loves to incorporate balance and stability into the exercise programs that I create, I do not advocate taking those exercises into the workplace.
There have been a few studies that have tested the effects of using a stability ball as your work chair. What do they reveal? Not a good idea to sit on a stability ball for prolonged periods of time. Dr. Stuart McGill, a leading researcher on spine mechanics states that the "Quadratus Lumborum muscle (which produces lateral flexion and stability of the trunk) is highly active, during prolonged ball sitting and it places a high compressive force on the discs". That does not sound like something that will help my back pain but potentially increase it.
So, if you want to use a stability ball in the workplace, I would recommend you use it as a lunch time workout tool, NOT as your desk chair.
Check out the study here:
http://cre-msd.uwaterloo.ca/stability_ball.pdf.
In my next post I will give you some exercises to try...stay tuned!