An exercise ball can make your workouts a lot more fun by challenging your body in ways that are different from those it's used to. However, to avoid injury, as with everything in the realm of exercise, proper use and maintenance are required. To keep your exercise ball in safe operating condition, a little maintenance is required, but not much. Here are some guide lines for the safe use and maintenance of your favorite exercise ball.
Figuring out how and where to store your ball is probably going to be the most mundane challenge you face. If you have only a little space, you may have to deflate and inflate your ball between uses, which you may find to be a hassle. If that's what you must do, then buy an electric pump. Using any other method may eventually prove to be so much trouble, that you lose your enthusiasm and stop using your ball altogether; and we don't want that. So buy an inexpensive electric pump. It will save you hours of time and a lot of stress.
Some balls are weighted in one spot to keep them from rolling around when you're not using them (between exercises for example). This makes it convenient, if you have space, to store your ball in one corner of the room, because the weight will keep it in place (otherwise there's no telling where it might wind up).
Some balls come with a circular stand (basically a plastic ring, which can be purchased separately) which prevents your ball from rolling. Actually you could use any open ended, round object to hold your ball (like a bowl or pan you're not using), but the stands, made for the purpose, look nicer. Some are even made to allow you to use your ball with exercise bands.
Be sure to keep your ball away from heat sources like fire places, heaters and stoves, since heat will cause your ball to soften, weaken and expand. If that happens, it's only a matter of time until your ball bursts and you fall painfully and ignominiously to the floor.
Keep your ball clean but don't use chemical cleaners or harsh detergents. Best is a soft cloth and clean, hot water, with or without mild soap. Anything else poses a threat to the integrity of the material of which the ball is made.
Pay particular attention to the surface on which you clean your ball too. It should be clean and dry, otherwise you'll just replace the dirt you've removed, with dirt from the floor, as you turn your ball around. Make especially certain to remove any sharp object from the cleaning surface (staples, pins, railroad spikes and the like).
One more word about pumps. Most balls come with some sort of manual pump, either a hand or foot pump. These are fine if you only need to inflate your ball occasionally. However, an inexpensive electric pump will make this task a lot easier. If you shop around on sites like Amazon.com, you'll find several for under $20 (as of this writing); and, believe me, it's well worth the money.
As for your practice space, there are a couple of things to watch for. First, make sure it's big enough. In general it should be no smaller, in either direction, than your height (no smaller than a jail cell, you might say).
Sharp edged furniture is the enemy; so make sure you clear all of it from your space. Remember that the ball will challenge your balance, so your movements may be somewhat out of your control (especially if you're just beginning). So unless you enjoy smashing your head into the corner of a table, make sure everything is moved out of the way.
Your exercise ball is a very versatile piece of exercise equipment. It can be used alone or in combination with other forms of exercise. The best way to take advantage of this fact is to use your ball as part of your regular workout.
The extra fun the ball adds to your other workout methods, like strength training, is to make them more challenging; which keeps your exercise routine from becoming routine. In other words, have fun with your ball. If your exercise isn't fun, you probably won't keep it up for long.
Richard has been publishing articles in multiple online venues, since 2003. Interested in researching and writing about a wide variety of topics, this author publishes articles, not only here but also on his own web sites. Check out his latest website about washersanddryersonline.org/index.html Washers & Dryers which discusses topics like washersanddryersonline.org/Front-Load-Washing-Machines.html Front Load Washing Machines. This site was created to help the consumer find the right product at the right price for his needs.
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