Several offices are switching from traditional computer chairs to fit balls for their employees to sit on. Advocates for the balls claim that they are a healthy alternative to sitting in a hard chair all day while providing a more entertaining work environment. They say that sitting on an exercise ball for an extended period of time as opposed to a flat sedentary surface helps the body to engage core muscles to maintain balance in response to the instability of the ball. Over time, the muscles utilized are supposed to become stronger. Opponents say that the balls are not ergonomic and can cause back problems if used more than for just exercise. The argument for this position is that while back muscles are being used to stabilize the the ball, the constant pressure of the muscle in motion can compress the spine, which if maintained, can permanently damage the intervertebral discs. Even more pressure is placed on the disks by sitting with the pelvis rolled in, which is how most people tend to balance on the ball for an extended time period.
Other arguments for the balls include whether or not they are too distracting to the workplace and if the benefits outweigh the risks of people misusing them or falling off backwards. While the balls may be a fun alternative to hours in a chair, most people agree that they should not be the primary seat used at the office. It wouldn’t be a bad idea to have a few exercise balls around the office for people to relax or stretch out on though.
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