This is something that is popular in Germany, but still fairly rare in the Netherlands, at the office me and several of my co-workers got a sitting ball like this (http://www.vistawellness.ch/new/images/imgdidactiques/didmassage1.jpg).
I don't have any pics of the one I sit on, but it's similar to the one in the pic.
It's supposed to be better for your back and posture. I find it less comfortable than a chair, but with my spine, I'm willing to give anything a try, and so far, I think the muscles in my back are actually benefitting - though I've only sat on it for five days, so it may be a little early to tell.

I am just wondering if anyone else has one of these sitting balls and how they like them.

I've heard of them actually. I used to want one because I slump really bad just because I'm too lazy to sit up lol. Neat idea, but I don't have any experience with them :P

i've never heard of that.. it looks kind of silly to me :buckt: but i can imagine how it could help.. my mom has scoliosis and she sits in front of a computer screen all day so maybe sitting on a ball will help her.. and her birthday's coming up too! sounds like a good idea :D i don't think having one of those for myself would be very good.. i'm clumsy so i'd probably go rolling back all the time :lol:

I've seen them on tv and read about them in people's blogs. ...I'd probably fall off and break a bone. :lol:

I've seen those before! In fact, I "used" to have one when I was little. My mom had a big blue balance ball, it was supposedly for her yoga classes. Anyway, she let me borrow it and I would like to sit on it, play ball with my friends, and do all sorts of fun little things with it. Then one hot summer day it just popped. :( I'll never forget that day. R.I.P. Blue Ball :lol:

Scoliosis runs in our family too.
My granddad had it, my mum had it, but not quite as severe, I have it, but only a very mild type, and my little niece also has similar problems with her spine.
In my case that meant I could never do very heavy duty work - although I tried and most of the time I was okay for a while. If it did get to me, it would be lower back pain that could actually make things like sitting and walking very painful for a while.
Then I had a car accident some 8 years ago and injured my neck. Because that left me with chronical pain, I tend to adjust my posture to avoid the pain as much as I can - which is very bad for my upper back.
So I can function pretty well, and nobody can tell from just looking at me that there's something wrong with my back, but I do have some limitations (that are definitely bearable, I really should not complain, most of the time).
So that's why I thought the sitting ball would be a good idea for me.
But I'm glad the others in the office wanted one too, this way I don't look too much like a dork LOL.
If you want to get one for your mum - you can order them in Germany, they can send it by mail, if you need help with finding them online I can probably help you.

Oh, and as for them rolling - mine has 'feet' that keeps it somewhat in place. But yeah, you do need to keep your balance - that's probably why they are so good for you hehe.

thanks!! i'll talk to my dad and my sister and see if they think it's a good idea too! :)

I fall asleep in my chair.But it looks kinda like an excerise ball...some muscle building at the office!:D

thanks!! i'll talk to my dad and my sister and see if they think it's a good idea too! :)
I think you live in Europe (U.K.?), but I'm not sure. For the ball to be sent from Germany to Holland was only $7 or so.
If it has to be shipped to the States I think it would be more expensive, and not every company would probably be prepared to ship outside of Europe. (so it might be worth trying to find one in the US first, if you happen to live there).
The ball itself is only $20 - $25 or so. There are cheaper types, but according to my co-worker the quality is not not as good.

i live in California, but if i can't find a company here, i don't mind paying the shipping and handling. i'll search around for one here, though!

I have a nice big yellow gymnastic ball. I'd use it when I'm on computer but it's a bit low. Though only a bit. If I wouldn't be so lazy and pump it as big as it is supposed to be which is up to 75 cm diameter then it might be just perfect for that aswell.

Otherwise I like to sit on it and bounce on it which is a bit childish but so much fun. Also since I have scoliosis aswell I like to actually lay on it either flat on my back or belly. And... there's a lot more you can do with it, like using it as usual ball when you have friendly or no neighbours.

I Love those things. I wish they had them in school. After a day of sitting in those hard desks and slouching, my back hurts when I try to sit up straight. I need something to help my posture. I tried one once, and I liked it.

That thing looks fun. I hate those spinning office chairs, and most of the regular computer chairs. I have posture issues, so this looks like a good idea. *goes off to browse the internet*

75 cm in diameter is too big, unless you're well over 6 ft tall.
I'm only 5.4" and mine is 55 cm in diameter.
My co-workers are 5.11" and theirs are 65 cm in diameter.
We looked the diameters up in a table before we ordered them. So if you get one for sitting on behind your desk, make sure you get the right diameter, otherwise it may actually be bad for your back.

Sal, let me know if you want to order one and you can't find them in the US.

We have like 5 of those balls in our school's weight room. The girls are always the ones to sit on them though, the guys opt never to use them. :P

Those balls are great fun to play with.

We used to have one, for my grandma, but we ended up playing with it most of the time..then it burst. :o

my aunt has one of those.
she also has a type of chair too that is different. i dont have a pic of it but...


if you stand up straight.
now go on your tiptoes.
and bend your legs so you are kinda in a sitting position.

the "chair" itself has a bar to support your shins (your toes are not touching th eground. and a bar that is supporting your butt. and no backing. kinda like this...

_

\

(with someone sitting and looking to the left)

the seat bar is slightly angled to the front which makes you naturally sit up a bit and thus helps your back.

good news, it does not burst.
bad news, no ball games during break times.
:)

haha I think I prefer the ball though :)

good news, it does not burst.
bad news, no ball games during break times.
:)
aw it was all good until that :lol:

it sounds, uncomfortable..I mean, only a bar :scared:

well its all padded and stuff ;)

its been alot of years, so it seems they have now added a back rest and improved on the setup. here is the product...
http://www.kneelsit.com/
and here is a pic of someone sitting on it...
http://www.kneelsit.com/images/perfect_posture.jpg

Lol.I have one of them sitting in my bedroom it's pretty comfartable actually.;)

it looks actually comfortable now! lol I was imagining it all just bars O_o :lol:

the "chair" itself has a bar to support your shins (your toes are not touching th eground. and a bar that is supporting your butt. and no backing. kinda like this...
My dad used to have one of those, and I loved it... It was incredibly comfortable.

I can't get the page (from the first post) to load but it sounds like you are talking about an excercise ball, or something similar. When I was pregnant, I used one at my desk. While it was so much more comfortable than a regular chair, it was too tall.

Sal, they sell actual ball chairs at office supply stores. I found one at Office Max.

Man if I didn't just buy a new desk chair, I'd look into that. My parents already think I'm weird, so why not? :lol:

75 cm in diameter is too big, unless you're well over 6 ft tall.
I'm only 5.4" and mine is 55 cm in diameter.
My co-workers are 5.11" and theirs are 65 cm in diameter.
We looked the diameters up in a table before we ordered them. So if you get one for sitting on behind your desk, make sure you get the right diameter, otherwise it may actually be bad for your back.
Do you happen to know which diameter would be right for 175 cm? The 75 cm is the maximum allowed, at the moment it is just 65 cm, so it's bit softer. As to using it with desk it feels bit low at the moment since my eyes should be bit higher compared to computer screen that I can't move.

Here's a table:
http://www.spine-health.com/topics/conserv/ball/ball01.html

I don't know if that's the one we used before ordering them, but they probably all say roughly the same.
I looked it up at work before, so I don't know what URL that was.

When I tried to look it up again just now, I searched for "sitting ball diameter" and on the first page on Google, I found a link to this thread :lolol:

I want one of those balls. They look so fun to sit on :lol:

so get one, they're not that expensive.

we got ours for some $80-100 I think :confusion but then it was when it just came out here. It shrunk over time :buckt:

Here's a table:
http://www.spine-health.com/topics/conserv/ball/ball01.html
If I converted my height right then I should use 55cm or 65cm one, but since the body angles described there are right I think I don't have to worry anymore.

I think Ive heard of a school that had their students sit on balls so they would stop slouching. :rolleyes:

omg i have one of those! i love bouncing on them

Fun! I never ever heard of them before. Does it force you to sit up straight? Because I'm a sloucher. :P

slouching is not impossible on a ball, but it is a lot harder, so you automatically sit up straight.
The first days I had muscle ache from my waste to my thighs, but now my body seems used to it, I don't get muscle ache and I don't feel as tired after 8 hours on that ball.

Yeahhhhh I use those all the time... for my evening workout