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A Swiss ball is a ball constructed of elastic rubber with a diameter of around 55 to 85 cm (22 to 34 inches). It is used in physical therapy and exercise.
The Swiss ball is also known by a number of different names, including exercise ball, gym ball, sports ball, fit or fitness ball, stability ball, therapy ball, yoga ball or body ball. It is larger and lighter than a medicine ball.
Benefits
A primary benefit of exercising with a Swiss ball as opposed to exercising directly on a hard flat surface is that the body responds to the instability of the ball to remain balanced, engaging many more muscles to do so. Those muscles become stronger over time to keep balance. Most frequently, the core body muscles — the abdominal muscles and back muscles — are the focus of exercise ball fitness programs.
Using a Swiss ball as part of a fitness program can include a wide range of difficulty levels, each requiring support from the back and stomach muscles that help firm up the trunk muscles in the body. Exercise balls are commonly used as part of a physical therapy program for individuals with low back pain.
Examples of uses of the exercise ball include:
- Developing overall control and strength of the core body muscles
- Increasing lower back mobility
- Increasing abdominal and back muscle strength
- Improving balance and stability
- Improving proprioception
- Learning proper body mechanics and posture while lifting objects
Other uses
Some people sit on a Swiss ball instead of a chair (for example, an office chair), since this position requires them to engage their abdominal and back muscles and maintain proper posture to remain balanced on the ball.
External links
"Swiss ball"