Our office, too, went through the Ball phase a couple of years ago. 80% of the office had one. In the end though not a single person stuck with it and the office was ball-free in less than a year.
Personally I found that I slouched MORE when using the ball because I could no longer lean back against a backrest. So when I got tired towards the end of the day I'd lean on the table instead. Result: Upper back pain. The other thing that annoyed me was being unable to shift my legs around at all - they BOTH have to be flat on the floor in front of you. No crossing one leg or changing the angle of you knee joints or anything like that.
I tried this at home and had similar results. For the first week I thought, "hey, this is great!" Then one day I was particularly tired and could barely stay on the thing. My upper back actually started spasming from the strain. I kept the ball but don't use it as a chair any more, though it's still fun to roll around on sometimes.
Same experience here. I tried it out, the novelty wore off pretty quickly. I find I'm happier with a good chair (I like Haworth's Zody and the Steelcase Leap) and getting up periodically to stretch. Sitting still for a long period of time is going to be bad, regardless of what you sit on.
I was at a startup from Jan-July '06 and we had several kicking around. I switched to the ball there at the startup and learned to love it. Shortly after, I replaced my home computer chair with a ball as well.
Like anything, they can be misused, and it's a matter of personal preference. I also have a laptop that doesn't fit very well on my computer desk, so when I'm on it, I'm usually lounging in a recliner or on the sofa at home.
The thing I love most about the ball is that I can get up, roll it back a bit, sit back down on it, then do a full-body arched-back stretch, then roll back up onto the ball, scoot it up to the desk, and keep working. I find myself doing that at least once an hour, and it always brings a boost. At my office (no balls allowed... heh) I end up having to run up and down a flight of stairs or do something else to get that boost. It takes a lot less time with an exercise ball, and I can keep focused.
An exercise ball is tough because it demands dynamic balance. You really work out your abs. You can't slouch because you'll fall off. I tried it for a couple months and gave it up. If you are seriously considering using an exercise ball, get a puncture-resistant one from a company like Fitter First (that guarantees against explosive decompression).
I will forever associate exercise-ball chairs with the hilarious moment when, in the middle of one of Leo Laporte's podcasts, there was this BANG sound off-mic and he went off the air for a few seconds. Then we heard his voice, a bit distant, as he explained that he was picking himself up off the floor because his chair had just exploded.
Of course, if you land wrong after such an incident it won't be quite so funny.
I tried sitting on a ball at home some time ago, but after a couple of hours on it, my back is on fire. It did not go away after about a week of trying, so I gave up.
This concern and the one about developing back problems are both great reasons to ease into using an exercise/yoga/stability ball as your primary chair. When people ask me about it, I recommend they start out with 20-30 minutes and slowly work their way up from there.
It's also important to get a ball of the right size (they typically are available in 10cm increments, with 55-75cm being the more common sizes). Look for charts online for sizing info, and then make sure it is inflated enough that when you're sitting on it the angle of your knees is 90 degrees.
While this change has helped my posture, increased my core strength and more, I think my next change is going to be for a treadmill desk so that I can increase the number of calories I burn throughout the day.
I tried a ball but found the lack of air circulation made the backs of my legs sweat uncomfortably. Went back to my Steeelcase Leap. It's not mesh like the Aeron, but the cushion was a lot better than sitting directly on rubber all day.
I've found that the biggest problem with using an exercise ball is that everyone asks you why you are sitting on an exercise ball. That and it is fun to kick.
Yes, it's just not worth it to be of "those" people. Whatever benefits it gets, its just hard to take someone seriously when their sitting on a giant inflatable fucking ball.
I can highly recommend a standing-desk arrangement, at least when compared to a very cheap office chair.
You need two things to keep with it for more than a few days: a good anti-fatigue surface to stand on, and a taller-than-average chair so that you can alternate sitting and standing.
I have used an exercise ball instead of a chair for the past year or so and really like it. I tend to have a lot of nervous energy, and being able to bounce on the ball while still seated at my desk help a lot, without having to get up, walk around, and getting too distracted from what I am doing. A couple of caveats, though: 1) You really do look pretty silly, especially if you bounce 2) Some people develop lower back problems when using a ball for long periods; be careful! 3) Office mates always seem to like stealing it and kicking it down the hallway (which is actually a lot of fun, but also annoying) and 3) If you had beans for dinner, beware, the ball tends to amplify sounds from down there :)
I've also used exercise balls for a couple years now -- at home, and at the former office. You'll find that your core muscles (abdominal, in particular) tone up significantly, with almost no apparent effort. The inherent instability of sitting on what's essentially a balloon benefits more than just your posture. All those small adjustments you unconsciously make to maintain balance work muscles that you don't often get to work otherwise, and with a wider range of motion than pretty much all the traditional exercises that target those muscles offer, too. It's some of the best "passive exercise" available.
As for the concerns about being made fun of or judged or whatever, mentioned several places in this discussion, someone's judging you says more about them than it does you.
And, yes, they do tend to have a resonant effect on certain reverberative sounds...
I'm 27 and used one at home for a long time. I really loved it and the only reason I stopped was that I got a hole in it. In general, it's not as comfortable as an Aeron, but it has a pretty high comfort to cost ratio.
That being said, since it was at home I was never on it as long as I would have been at work.
I'm 36, and have used them at home and at work for a couple years now. I gave away my old office chair -- not that it was a particularly nice one, but I don't need it any more.
An academic at my university has a ball in his office he goes to sit on when he has something to think about. I think I'd prefer this to sitting on the ball at a computer - I just can't imagine taking myself seriously if I did that.
i had an attny buddy that wanted to use an exercise ball instead of an office chair. ultimately he got made fun of by so many people that he ended up not doing it. i can see startup people using it, but very few will do so in a more professional office setting.
however, i do like the idea of alternative desk arrangements though. i've seen several people with a desk that can be lifted up so that you can stand and work when you want. then there's the treadmill desks which are pretty cool.
I have never been able to achieve this. Where do you place your laptop? It's most comfortable for me when my laptop is on my stomach and my back is propped up but even then my neck is strained. How have you been able to make this position work?
Actually i use a desktop PC while horizontal. My monitor is on a short table beside my bed, and I use a couple pillows for my head. Keyboard's on my lap.
I thought the general recommendation is to use such "exercise chairs" only for short periods of time, not all the time. I also used to have one and gave it up.
An exercise ball is a good idea but I would not count on using one as a permanent replacement. My ideal situation would be an alternation between an office chair, like an aeron, and a stable, four-legged cushioned chair (the kind that is usually on the other side of the desk in an office).
At home, I switch between an office chair and a piano bench. You don't need a backless chair to sit upright and not slouch. However, an unstable surface (like a chair with rollers, or an exercise ball) can be distracting and requires more energy to maintain an upright posture.
So: a bench or a stable chair for posture, and an aeron or similar when your back gets tired. An exercise ball to mix it up would be cool too.
35 comments
[ 2.7 ms ] story [ 74.6 ms ] threadPersonally I found that I slouched MORE when using the ball because I could no longer lean back against a backrest. So when I got tired towards the end of the day I'd lean on the table instead. Result: Upper back pain. The other thing that annoyed me was being unable to shift my legs around at all - they BOTH have to be flat on the floor in front of you. No crossing one leg or changing the angle of you knee joints or anything like that.
http://www.tbs.com/video/index/#/all-video/shows/the-office/...
Like anything, they can be misused, and it's a matter of personal preference. I also have a laptop that doesn't fit very well on my computer desk, so when I'm on it, I'm usually lounging in a recliner or on the sofa at home.
The thing I love most about the ball is that I can get up, roll it back a bit, sit back down on it, then do a full-body arched-back stretch, then roll back up onto the ball, scoot it up to the desk, and keep working. I find myself doing that at least once an hour, and it always brings a boost. At my office (no balls allowed... heh) I end up having to run up and down a flight of stairs or do something else to get that boost. It takes a lot less time with an exercise ball, and I can keep focused.
I will forever associate exercise-ball chairs with the hilarious moment when, in the middle of one of Leo Laporte's podcasts, there was this BANG sound off-mic and he went off the air for a few seconds. Then we heard his voice, a bit distant, as he explained that he was picking himself up off the floor because his chair had just exploded.
Of course, if you land wrong after such an incident it won't be quite so funny.
It's also important to get a ball of the right size (they typically are available in 10cm increments, with 55-75cm being the more common sizes). Look for charts online for sizing info, and then make sure it is inflated enough that when you're sitting on it the angle of your knees is 90 degrees.
While this change has helped my posture, increased my core strength and more, I think my next change is going to be for a treadmill desk so that I can increase the number of calories I burn throughout the day.
You need two things to keep with it for more than a few days: a good anti-fatigue surface to stand on, and a taller-than-average chair so that you can alternate sitting and standing.
As for the concerns about being made fun of or judged or whatever, mentioned several places in this discussion, someone's judging you says more about them than it does you.
And, yes, they do tend to have a resonant effect on certain reverberative sounds...
Also an issue with Aeron's "mesh"
That being said, since it was at home I was never on it as long as I would have been at work.
however, i do like the idea of alternative desk arrangements though. i've seen several people with a desk that can be lifted up so that you can stand and work when you want. then there's the treadmill desks which are pretty cool.
At home, I switch between an office chair and a piano bench. You don't need a backless chair to sit upright and not slouch. However, an unstable surface (like a chair with rollers, or an exercise ball) can be distracting and requires more energy to maintain an upright posture.
So: a bench or a stable chair for posture, and an aeron or similar when your back gets tired. An exercise ball to mix it up would be cool too.