Using an Exercise Ball for Fitness

Topic: Exercising with Disability
Author: Dave Tupniak
Published: 2009/02/27 - Updated: 2012/07/12
Contents: Summary - Introduction - Main - Related

Synopsis: Many people owe their fitness and health to exercise balls including people who suffer from muscular dystrophy and have balancing problems.

Introduction

Many people owe their fitness and health to exercise balls, including some people who suffer from muscular dystrophy and as such have balancing problems. That is not the limit of the exercise ball's usefulness however.

Main Digest

The exercise ball is an excellent home exercise and fitness accessory and can be used to build muscle as well as improve their endurance.

A common misconception concerning exercise balls is that they will take up too much space in your home. This is a fallacy, however, and an exercise ball can easily be deflated and stored, taking up minimal storage space. This helps make the exercise ball an excellent choice as a piece of exercise equipment.

One of the reasons behind the growing popularity of exercise balls in recent years is that they are affordable and require little maintenance, unlike regular exercise machines and equipment. An exercise ball will also help you avoid expensive gym fees. In fact, exercise balls do not require any maintenance at all, although they do wear out eventually, at which point you will have to buy a new one. While this may not seem like it will save you money in the short-run, in the long-run, it is highly beneficial for your muscles and overall exercise and fitness regimen.

Another advantage of using exercise balls is that they can be used to strengthen all of the muscles throughout your body. Even your core area - the middle portion of your body - can be strengthened using an exercise ball and the right exercises. Exercise balls can also be used to develop muscular balance, as they tend to roll about, forcing your muscles to learn to balance in order to counter the movement. Exercise balls are also soft, so you will not injure yourself if you strike one hard.

In addition, exercise balls can be used in conjunction with other types of exercise equipment. Small weights, for example, can be used while using an exercise ball. This provides greater resistance, making your exercises more effective.

Yoga exercises often make use of exercise balls. They can serve to cushion any impacts you experience while exercising because they are soft. An exercise ball will increase the resistance experienced in a yoga workout, however, making it harder and more tiring to perform your exercises.

Exercise balls have also been used for rehabilitative exercise and fitness purposes, and not just for patients with muscular dystrophy. For instance, patients suffering from back pain can practice balancing on an exercise ball, thus improving the alignment of their backs. This helps them improve their flexibility while reducing the pain.

All things considered, there are many benefits that can be derived from using exercise balls. They are inexpensive, can be used with rehabilitation and yoga exercise and fitness exercises, and can aid you in strengthening all of the muscles in your body. If you are looking to purchase a new piece of exercise equipment, you should seriously consider getting an exercise ball.

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Cite This Page (APA): Dave Tupniak. (2009, February 27 - Last revised: 2012, July 12). Using an Exercise Ball for Fitness. Disabled World. Retrieved September 11, 2024 from www.disabled-world.com/fitness/exercise/exercise-balls.php

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