If there is one
equipment you should not miss in your training, it is the stability ball. The
market comes up with new training tools now and then. Yet you are not sure if
they do work and if they are safe. So for one that is guaranteed to work, use the
stability ball.
What Is a Stability
Ball?
This is a large and
inflatable ball used as exercise equipment. Despite being air-filled, it is
generally heavy-duty and capable to hold 600 to 700 pounds of weight. It is
comfortable and gives good support. It perfectly suits the trainee as it easily
goes with the structure of the body.
This exercise tool is
also sometimes called as the physioball or the Swiss Ball.
The good thing about
using the stability ball is it reduces the perception of ‘working’ in training,
especially for beginners. It gives some element of ‘play’ as you get rough with
the training. It adds some fun and excitement as you advance in the movements
and techniques.
Another good point with
the ball is that it can be used by anybody. No fitness level is required. It is
very portable and lightweight, easy to bring along even when traveling. It is
also inexpensive compared to other exercise equipment and it could last for a
very long time.
How Stability Balls Came
About?
The use of the stability
balls for training can be traced in rehabilitation. As early as the 1900’s,
physical therapists have been using balls in addressing the neurological
disorders of their patients.
Then, in the early 1960s,
Aquilino Cosani, an Italian toymaker, made the ball and sold it, known then as
the ‘Gymnastik.’ Two decades after, Cosani came up with a company called Gymnic
and became the major supplier of the stability ball to most rehabilitation
programs and centers.
The ball then shifted
from the rehabilitation to the athletic area, in the 90’s. It was used to
condition the body of professional athletes. From then on, the ball became very
prominent in the fitness community.
At present medical
specialists and fitness professionals very much recommend the use of the
stability ball by the public. It serves more than solving physical problems. It
is good in preventing you from having one.
What Are the Benefits of
Using a Stability Ball?
The stability ball is
best to improve the strength of the abs and the lower-backs. It improves as
well the functional strength, balance and flexibility of the body.
1. Proper Alignment
Using the ball during
training will test the body to make use of the different parts to maintain the
proper balance. The dynamic movements during exercise will improve the natural
motor reflexes of the body as different muscles are utilized in movement, especially
the ones that are not usually used. The challenge posed by the ball is to
maintain balance. As one aims to get the proper balance, the alignment of the
body parts is also improved.
2. Great Abs
For people working out
to achieve great abs, this ball can target the abdominal areas. The abs and the
back muscles are simultaneously moved as you work in your balance. Just imagine
the good feeling of having a flat stomach area and you will love this ball.
3. Muscle Strength and
Endurance
The stability ball can
help in alleviating any back pain and preventing one in the future. As all the
major muscle groups are exercised, the muscle tone, strength and endurance are
also improved. Thus it gives the body flexibility, stability and resistance.
4. Core Stability
This concerns the major
muscles that help stabilize and support all of the body movements. This is made
up of back and the deep abdominal muscles. With the ball, no matter how ‘deep’
or ‘into the core’ these muscles are, they are still exercised. This is
something only the stability ball can guarantee.
5. Stretching
The ball is a good
companion during stretching exercises. With this, you can easily move into and
move out of different stretching positions.
6. Losing Weight
Of course, with all the
good benefits of using the ball, you will not miss out on the aspect of losing
weight. With regular exercises and trainings done with the stability ball, a
person can lose some unwanted pounds as the body is firmed.
Health is your most
important asset. So do your regular exercise and maintain a healthy diet.
Furthermore, have a happy and fun training with the stability ball.