Exercise balls?

[ammi]

Hi
We just got an exercise ball the other day and I wondered if anybody had used one before and if they got good results

[Two_Sheds]

do you mean the giant inflatable ones?
I use mine as a back rest or a chair

[piskieinboots]

I love love love mine, I often use it in place of my chair when sitting at my computer - however, I have been known to fall off whilst chatting to a client

I also use a cushion on my work chair, which is similar - if you can imagine a sort of flat wedgy type thing, really helps my back issues

[Two_Sheds]

oh, what have you got Piskie? I've been searching for a soft cushion for my upper back (I've looked on Net, and all back cushions seem to be for lumbar support, not upper back).

I need something kind of fat sausage shaped, to go down my spine. I've got a foam one but it's just not quite right.

[piskieinboots]

oh, what have you got Piskie?

Mine is one you sit on, not rest against, it has raised lumps all over it so that when you sit on it in Summer wearing 'you' end up looking like you have a nasty case of cellulite

I've tried many times since to find one again, but this is the nearest I can get - mine is a wedge rather than round

[HayleyB]

Chocolate Brownie had to use one for physio. She has hypermobility but was born with twisted in hips too. Rather than going the operation route (six months of hell) we opted for natural means, hydrotherapy & physio once each a week, and this ball at home with the help of a wobble board, exercise every day to straighten her hips for about two years. Those hips are as straight as they'll ever be not perfect but good enough...

[Bigmallly]

Chiropractor recommended one for my lower back problem & has been very good. There are some good exercises that you can google & print out.

[OllieMartin]

Exercise balls?

When I get the chance

[HayleyB]

You haven't

[piskieinboots]

did you have a fag after?

[OllieMartin]

did you have a fag after?

Is that a euphamism?

(sorry for hijacking yet another thread )

[Jeanied]

Naughty, naughty, Ollie - your posts are getting full of innuendo these days, are you sure you are OK? Not been overdoing it recently?

On the subject of backs and exercises - having spent a fortune on Alexander lessons, I can confirm that the best treatment tends to be semi - supine relaxation each day.
Not sure about the exercise ball though, how/ what are they intended to help with, Ammi?

[Two_Sheds]

On the subject of backs and exercises -Not sure about the exercise ball though, how/ what are they intended to help with

I use mine to stretch my back out: lie on it (on your back) and slowly roll back and forth. It's lovely, like a massage.

You need to keep your feet on the ground though, or it'll flip you over

I also got one of these foam rollers and it's brilliant. Painful, but effective.

They also do peanuts

[Bigmallly]

I use mine to stretch my back out: lie on it (on your back) and slowly roll back and forth. It's lovely, like a massage

Also do the same vertically by crouching up & down with the ball against a wall if you find it difficult to lay on it as it can be awkward.

[Alison]

I also got one of these foam rollers and it's brilliant. Painful, but effective.

They shouldn't be painful I use one for pilates and find it great as it challenges my core muscles more than just being on the floor. My friend however hates them and prefers the big balls - funily enough I hate them as I always feel like I'm going to fall off and bang the bottom of my spine.