Balance ball chairs?

ErinG93

I'm wanting a new office chair for my desk and I can't decide if I should go with a classic/normal office chair or a balance ball chair. Does anyone use an exercise ball chair? If so, what brand, and do you like it? This is the one I'm looking at getting:  http://www.amazon.com/Gaiam-Balance-Ball-Chair-Black/dp/B0007VB4NE/ref=sr_1_1?s=sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=1325794114&sr=1-1

AllAboutTheBenjamin

Lol that thing looks ridiculous.

I'd totally sit on that at my desk.  Omg.

laurenclaire1386

I used to have a coworker that had one, and I'll ditto AATB. I don't know squat about them or whether or not they help anything or whatever, but they look pretty darn stupid.

ErinG93

They are definitely not the prettiest.

laurenclaire1386

What happens if the ball deflates? Can you get a new one? I know myself well enough to know that it would take me about 42 seconds to accidentally punch a hole in that sucker with a pen or something.

ErinG93

I'm not really sure. Now I am imaging myself opening my mail and stabbing it with my letter opener. I think that exercise balls are pretty tough, but I really don't know. 

SunriseAmber

What does this chair do that is good for you? I've heard this mentioned before but I have no clue as to what the chair is used for. And I would definitly by it anyway just because it looks like fun.

ski2play

Not pretty; but oh so good for your core muscles. Related note, I loved my buso ball classes I attended at my YMCA.

ErinG93

Ok, I can't see your posts but I know I spelled imagining wrong earlier. I have been trying to edit for a while now!

adamar15

Damn you TK for eating posts!  I'm curious about this one.

ETA: and now I can see everything.  I sit on a ball, but I don't have the chair thing.  I think that would kind of defeat the purpose of it.  I like mine because I can kind of wiggle/roll around a little and it keeps my back from stiffening up and getting sore.  It has done nothing for weight loss, so I think that part is a crock of shiit.

MRads

My Mom has one and so does my H.  No, they aren't the prettiest things, but they are so much better for your back.  H just had back surgery, and the ball chair has really helped him to be able to sit longer.  You probably won't be able to take off the back, for safety purposes, so it won't necessarily help your core as much as if you did take it off.  If you sit a lot or are worried about your back, it is a decent investment.

ETA: and they are almost impossible to burst, but I am sure somebody has done it.  I just think you'd have to work hard to pop it.

ErinG93

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_balance-ball-chairs?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:da89693c-bfcf-424f-9866-f5d9733040f3Post:d9100992-4e59-42fa-9f60-04b4f54a3bef">Re: Balance ball chairs?</a>:
[QUOTE]I'm sitting here with a rolled up cloth computer carrier to support my back because it's been killing me.  Staring at that does not help, though I know it'll actually help the posture situation.  Oh the stomach/core muscles you would get!
Posted by Beaniebeach[/QUOTE]

<div>I can see your posts now. Woo! Beanie, I sit with a paper towel roll behind my back. It makes it feel sooooo much better, but looks more than ridiculous.</div>

adamar15

Also, it does not help my posture any more than a normal chair does.  I still slouch over my desk when I'm being lazy.  But it's more fun to sit on than a normal chair.  Plus it's purple, so there's that.

Callmefia

I also used a ball (without the chair) for awhile. I still have it (deflated) and the pump for it under my desk. (Its so totally embarassing to use a hand pump at work to inflate the ball. But so much easier to get it in unnoticed by the whole building. LOL!)

I used it when my back was hurting a lot, probably from poor posture. people thought it was funny but after awhile they got over it. I kept my old chair in my office still and could store the inflated ball under the desk if people were going to be around much.

If you want to try it out at a cheaper cost first, I would recommend just using the ball to see if you like it. They are like $20 at walmart. I had to try a few sizes to get it right, but walmart took the one I didn't like back with no problem.

mkrupar

I've heard the balls are great to sit on even just at your house watcing TV. The constant moving and rolling keeps your muscles from getting stiff.

sparent2010

I hate it when they deflate but they are pretty cool. I like to switch on and off b/w the ball and my chair.

It is good for your back and ab muscles.

tpender13

I would go regular chair and an excercise ball separate. I used to sit on just a ball at work, but I also had a regular chair too -- I couldn't take using it all day; my stomach and back muscles just got too sore. I do plan on getting another ball though. I figure as long as I'm sitting all day anyway I may as well spend a chunk of it working on my core muscles.

July2012bride

From my trusty source Mental Floss:

http://www.mentalfloss.com/blogs/archives/112349

Although I admit I'm an exercise ball sitter, as are many in my company.

MyUserName1

I have a five dollar exercise from Five Below as my desk chair.

I know i'm a little late to chime in, but if I make a concious effort, it helps my posture and makes my back less sore.

But I'm HELLA good at slouching on it now.

Birdie1483

I have a couple coworkers that have used regular ol balance balls that you can get anywhere. They didn't have any back to them. They did it for exercise and to help with core strength.


I also have a few coworkers that use standing desks. Meaning, they don't use a chair at all. They elevated their desks so they're at the right height to comfortably stand at. They've both liked them.

jeslm

The chair seems to sort of defeat the purpose.

FI sits on a ball at work, no chair.  He swears it's helped his back after a disc decompression surgery and about nine steriod shots.  I was thinking about getting one, but our office is business/business casual and I tend to favor wearing pencil skirts, which seems like it wouldn't work so well...