The use of stability balls in the workplace in place of the standard office chair

Authors

Diane E. Gregory and Jack P. Callaghan

Key messages

• Stability balls do not provide any inherent benefits in the absence of other physical training and workstation interventions
• Over a prolonged period of sitting (one hour) no differences in trunk muscle activation patterns were observed, suggesting the ball does not aid in core strengthening
• The ball does not actualy provoke an improved posture as no differences were found in lumbar spine posture
• Individuals complained of more discombort when sitting on the stability ball
• Use of ball as a chair may increase the risk of developing low back discomfort and increase the risk of sustaining an injury due to the unstable nature of these balls.

Implications for the prevention of MSD

It is of the authors’ opinions that stability balls should not be used as an alternative to the standard office chair since the device itself, in the absence of other physical training and workstation interventions, does not seem to provide any inherent benefits to the end user. Further, using the stability ball as a chair may actually increase the risk of developing low back discomfort and may increase the risk of sustaining an injury due to the inherent unstable nature of these balls.