Exercise Ball Precautions
- Consult your family physician prior to beginning any
new exercise program.
- Progress slowly and only according to your
ability.
- If you are doing exercise ball exercises for the
first time, perform your exercises without weights in order to become
familiar with the movement.
- If you are doing exercise ball exercises for the
first time it may be helpful initially to have someone hold the ball or
the have the ball propped in order to learn the movement.
- Use your ball in an open area away from nearby
furniture, counters, and sharp objects.
- Use an appropriate size ball (see sizing chart).
- If you have an injury, illness, or are pregnant, it
is important that you consult your physical therapist or family
physician to assess whether these exercise ball exercises are suitable
for you.
- Stop any exercise ball exercises that causes pain or
feels awkward. Readjust yourself and reread the instructions.
The adage "no pain, no gain" does not apply. Joint pain of any kind is
never a good sign.
- If you feel any of the exercise ball exercises are
dead easy, you are probably doing it wrong. Try to do at
least the recommended repetitions.
- People with poor balance should only do exercise ball
exercises under close supervision by a physical therapist
- There is a risk of falling off the ball, particularly
during some of the illustrated exercises. Perform exercises slowly and
with control always maintaining correct body position
- Do not do these exercise ball exercises if you have
or have had in the past any neuromusculoskeletal disorder. Seek a
health care professional capable of diagnosing neuromusculoskeletal
pathology prior to attempting any exercises on this or any other site.
- Do not exceed the ability of your spine to stabilize
you. Serious injury may result if you place more of a demand on your
stabilizing musculature that it is capable of providing. If you feel
discomfort,
stop the exercise immediately and choose one that is more in keeping
with your capabilities.
- Quality is far more important than quantity. Work
with excellent technique (form) and work only until technique fatigue.
- Be sure to follow instructions precisely, stop the
exercise if you do not feel comfortable doing the exercise.
- Find the highest capacity burst resistant ball
available, and make sure it is properly inflated. Risks include
fractures, strains, sprains, concussions, or worse.