Doctors have identified using the exercise ball a premier method for dealing with some kinds of lower back pain (lumbago) or similar conditions.  Some doctors also believe that using the exercise ball correctly can be good for pregnant mothers in helping to deal with body weight changes and other factors in a pregnancy.

But it’s important to avoid over-stressing the body: as with any other exercise, using the ball is helpful if done properly, and potentially harmful if misused.

First, if an individual faces specific balance difficulties, such as vertigo, etc., they may not be a good candidate for the exercise ball.  It depends on the extremity of the condition, as in general the ball is good for learning poise and balance.  A doctor can help assess this and give guidance.

Also, if lower back pain becomes worse with using the ball, the patient should not attempt to “work through” the pain.  Again, a medical doctor or chiropractor can offer recommendations based on specific cases, often with the aid of x-rays or other diagnostic photos.

Your chiropractor can tell you how your spine “looks” and what’s happening to the nerve centers around your vertebrae.  You can’t see these things yourself, so sometimes, a visit to the doctor is the only practical way to get a good diagnosis.

Where tools like the exercise ball can help out is in “home care” that can replace costly “therapy sessions” in a chiropractor’s office.  A good rule of thumb is to go in, get a good diagnosis, find out your conditions, and go home with a set of instructions for best home therapy.  Then, FOLLOW THROUGH on home therapy, taking your own notes, and go back if you experience a relapse, or after a significant period of time to see how your body is adjusting to its home care.  Barring complications, you can decrease the number of visits necessary by using tools like the exercise ball to do the work of strengthening your body, instead of trekking into a medical office to have your back worked on.

Doctors generally recommend starting out slow with up to ½ hour of light bouncing on a ball.  Then, there are further exercises that can be helpful as you progress and build core body strength.  With any luck, you’ll be on your way to health!

So whether it’s alleviating back pain that’s your goal, or if it’s gaining balance, dealing with a pregnancy, or getting home therapy for an injury (or just fine-tuning your body’s agility), responsible use of the exercise ball can assist in getting you back to 100% and keeping you there for life!  Keeping records and seeking medical advice will help ensure that your routine is a health booster and something you can bank on long term.