Office Chair vs. Exercise Ball: 3 Things to Remember

Should you use an exercise ball?
Photo by i yunmai on Unsplash

Replacing an office chair with an exercise ball is one of the most common strategies people use to stay active at work, but it’s not for everyone. A balance ball can help you improve your core strength, but here are a few things that you should take into consideration before welcoming it into your office.

Bad Posture

If you don’t have good posture while sitting on a stability ball, you’re doing yourself more harm than good. This is pretty common because the ball requires more effort than a regular chair, and your posture will suffer as you try to keep balance all day long.

Pain and Aches

Your posture will suffer if you sit on the exercise ball for a prolonged period of time, leading to potential pain and aches. Neck and low back pain are pretty common due to the lack of back support and arm rests that you would have on a regular chair.

Perfect Balance

There’s no need to completely swap your office chair for an exercise ball if you can find the perfect balance between the two. Both come with a long list of pros and cons, so your best bet is to alternate between them and throughout the day and use each one in moderation.