WorkSafeBC Sounds the Alarm on the Dangers of Fitness Balls in the Workplace - Healing Through Movement - Rick Kaselj


	Article Review: WorkSafeBC Sounds the Alarm on the Dangers of Fitness Balls in the Workplace
	FITNESS BALLS ARE A HAZARD Fitness balls have been used in rehabilitation clinics and gyms for years. They originally were a rehabilitation tool in the 1980s to help clients improve their balance. In the 1990s they became a very popular fitness tool for core back strengthening. Today they have made their way into home and business offices, where many health and fitness professionals have been encouraging their clients to use them in place of a chair to improve core back strength and posture, and provide a day-long workout. WorkSafeBC, the Workers’ Compensation Board of British Columbia, has sounded the alarm on the dangers of using this fitness tool as an office chair in home and business offices. FITNESS BALLS HAVE NO BENEFIT While a lot of research confirms the benefits of using a fitness ball for improving balance and core back strength, there is no evidence that concludes fitness balls offer similar physical benefits when used as a replacement for your office chair. FITNESS BALLS ARE A SAFETY HAZARD WorkSafeBC has recently classified fitness balls as a hazard in the workplace. When at work, people perform tasks that require concentration, good posture, stability and visual alertness for up eight hours a day. Sitting on an unstable surface may cause more stress on the body, which can cause fatigue and lead to falls and injuries. RECOMMENDATIONS FROM RICK KASELJ Short-term or intermittent use of a fitness ball may be an appropriate part of a rehabilitation plan but should not be used as an office chair for prolonged sitting. Rick Kaselj,a Registered Kinesiologist and certified personal trainer in Langley, BC,. recommends an office chair that is highly adjustable to meet the body needs of the individual, has a high back for back and neck support, has lumbar support for back comfort, and a good sized seat tray for leg support. Top 7 Reasons a Fitness Ball Should Not Be Used as an Office Chair There is a higher risk of falling when getting on and off or reaching from a fitness ball. You can't swivel or navigate your workspace while seated on a fitness ball. Your buttocks and thighs have insufficient support on a fitness ball. You don't have full seat or back support, making it difficult to maintain an upright posture on a fitness ball. You have minimal adjustability on a fitness ball. Your muscles are working excessively to maintain an upright posture on a fitness ball. You are literally exercising all day long, leading to increased fatigue and increased risk of falls and injuries. Source: Sit up and Take Notice. July / August 2006, WorkSafe Magazine, page 20. Full Article Available at: www.WorkSafeMagazine.com For additional information about Rick Kaselj visit: www.HealingThroughMovement.com About Rick Kaselj Rick Kaselj is a Registered Kinesiologist and ACE Certified Personal Trainer with a passion for exercise rehabilitation and post-rehabilitation. Rick designs effective exercise programs that safely and rapidly help one recover from an injury and or chronic musculoskeletal pain. Rick presents courses on exercise rehabilitation across Canada and publishes a monthly newsletter for those interested in optimizing their health and fitness. To reach Rick or to subscribe to the monthly newsletter, call (604) 532-5248 or visit www.HealingThroughMovement.com .
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