However, anecdotal evidence suggests that while initial use of a stability ball as a chair may induce low back pain, progressive use may actually help reduce low back symptoms after the user has accommodated to using a ball as a chair 9. Prior to the work conducted at the University of Waterloo, no study has ever directly compared the trunk muscle activation and spine posture of individuals while sitting on a stability ball to those on a standard office chair. However, prolonged exposure to increased muscle activation may also be detrimental to individuals, as research has shown that muscle activation with few rest breaks, over extended periods, can result in localized muscle pain or overload 5,12. These ideas suggest that if the claims made by stability ball companies are in fact correct, then the stability ball may have some potential to decrease and/or prevent low back pain associated with prolonged seated work.
It is well accepted that more neutral spine postures during workplace exposures may reduce the development of low back pain 11. Other research, however, points to reduced trunk muscle endurance, not strength, as being a better indicator of which individuals report low back pain 7. However conflicting research has reported no relationship between strength and low back pain 2. The claim of decreased discomfort is based on research that has shown a positive relationship between reduced trunk muscle strength and individuals with low back pain1,6. Stability ball manufactures claim that using the ball in place of an office chair has benefits such as increased trunk muscle activation and thus increased core strength, improved posture, and decreased discomfort. However, recently, their popularity as an alternative to the standard office chair has risen. Stability balls are also often used in rehabilitation settings to aid in whole body balance development and control. The stability ball is a large (diameter ranging from 60 toġ00cm) inflated ball primarily used for core stabilizing exercises such as abdominal crunches and back extensor exercises 3,13.
The use of stability balls in the workplace in place of the standard office chair (PDF)
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