Well, no, not necessarily, but let me tell you about the benefits of keeping that ball around and maybe you won't be as upset next time you trip over the stupid thing. The stability ball's benefit is that it requires more of the muscle fibers to be recruited when you're doing an exercise. So, let's take crunches. If you were to do crunches on the floor, which is still an effective exercise, you rectus abdominus would only activate the muscles it needed to get the job done. It tries not to do more work than it needs to. Well, the stability ball is going to overload your abdominals more, thus requiring them to recruit more muscle fibers in the rectus abdominus. So, you're going to be working your abdominals more than you would if you were just doing them on the floor. Is it necessary? Do you HAVE to have the stability ball to get results? No. If you do crunches on the floor with your legs up, and curl from your abs instead of your neck, you're going to require your abs to work adequately enough. However, the ball does provide an additional stimulus and may help with the boredom factor a bit. So, it just depends on how much you hate storing the ball vs. how much you enjoy doing the work on it and the results you get from it!
I definitely know what it means to be stumbling over the ball when it's not in use. Something I found helpful though was putting up a canopy that hangs from the ceiling -- and putting the ball in it, like a cradle. It's a space-saving idea. Actually, it wasn't my idea but my boyfriend's. :) But yes, it's light in weight but is just very volumous. I like your point about the ball helping with the boredom factor; it's definitely a lot more fun being conscious of a ball being under you as opposed to the standard floor sit ups. I feel like I'm 10 again. :)
It may be hard to find a place for it, but if you don't have a ball at home for that reason you can find them at every gym near you, I'm sure. I've found, through past physical therapy sessions after a car accident, that the stability ball can also help with upper body workouts. I used one just yesterday to support the lower half of my body as I did push ups. Stability balls are also good as back support when doing squats, using the ball to lower and raise yourself up and down the wall.
I will give this a try tomorrow because they have these balls hanging out at the gym.
I am getting tired of my current abdominal, slant board sit ups.
Rectus abdominus? Is that a certain stomach muscle or just a fancy work for abdominal muscles.
I wished I had a stability ball after attending a Circuit Training class last year. The Instructor had incorporated many stability ball related exercises into the circuit. I found it to be extremely helpful with maximizing my efforts in each rep and maintaining control of my movements. But, space is a problem for right now.
My problem is not tripping over it, I agree if it's there, convenient and in my sight, i am more likely to use it. My concern is a saftey issue, my young kids cannot resist it, I am worried they are going to "ride" it through the TV screen, or worse... head on into a wall.
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Posted by Kim N.
Well, no, not necessarily, but let me tell you about the benefits of keeping that ball around and maybe you won't be as upset next time you trip over the stupid thing. The stability ball's benefit is that it requires more of the muscle fibers to be recruited when you're doing an exercise. So, let's take crunches. If you were to do crunches on the floor, which is still an effective exercise, you rectus abdominus would only activate the muscles it needed to get the job done. It tries not to do more work than it needs to. Well, the stability ball is going to overload your abdominals more, thus requiring them to recruit more muscle fibers in the rectus abdominus. So, you're going to be working your abdominals more than you would if you were just doing them on the floor. Is it necessary? Do you HAVE to have the stability ball to get results? No. If you do crunches on the floor with your legs up, and curl from your abs instead of your neck, you're going to require your abs to work adequately enough. However, the ball does provide an additional stimulus and may help with the boredom factor a bit. So, it just depends on how much you hate storing the ball vs. how much you enjoy doing the work on it and the results you get from it!