Ball Chair Safety: Risks, Precautions & Proper Use

Exercise balls have been used since the 1980s for balance training and physical rehabilitation. Ball chairs at work can be beneficial when used intermittently to relieve back stress, but using them for office seating can have debilitating long-term effects.

Safety Precautions

• Don't use a ball chair if you suffer from osteoporosis or chronic lower back pain. Make sure you're using a burst-resistant chair, because lower-quality balls can pop and you can suffer and injury from falling. Use a ball chair that's the right size to position your knees at a 90-degree angle while you're seated.

Benefits

• A ball chair can strengthen the lower back and abdominal muscles through active sitting, which requires the muscles' exertion to support the torso. A study published in the Journal of the Canadian Chiropractic Association reported that active sitting can improve balance and equilibrium.

Warning

• Vermont's Department of Buildings and General Services warns that ball chairs don't support the spine's "S-Curve" and don't provide sufficient lower back support. Excessive ball chair use causes muscle fatigue that leads to slouching, reducing blood flow and exacerbating lower-back strain.