Does using an exercise ball as a chair relieve back pain?
From an ergonomics perspective, stability balls are not an effective solution for reducing low back pain in the workplace because: • Active sitting increases the rate of fatigue due to constantly challenging your balance. In addition to fatigue, continuously maintaining your balance throughout the day may be an issue for some individuals and people with previous back injuries who have decreased postural control. • Balls do not have armrests or back supports, key features in supporting the body. • A reclined sitting position produces the least amount of disc pressure and muscle activity; this cannot be achieved with an exercise ball.
