This is a good, rugged, affordable ball. I use it entirely as a desk chair, not for yoga or other exercise. No matter what ball you choose, they are designed to help improve posture and strengthen muscles which may become weak if you sit at a desk several hours a day.
I purchased this one because it's a little more rugged than others. I felt the anti-burst variety might be a better way to go if my girls decided it would be fun to bounce on it.
There are two important things you should know when purchasing any ball. First, you need to select the right diameter. 55 cm is 21 1/2 inches, which is slightly higher than the average seat height for a standard, non-adjustable chair. But that's ok because your weight naturally compresses the ball so you're actual seat height will be slightly lower than the measured diameter.
Second, it's helpful to understand something about the seal. There are many, many complaints about balls that leak air, no matter what brand you're looking at. Knowing this in advance, and having watched my car mechanic change my tires, it's useful to help seal the plug with a lubricant such as petroleum jelly. This will also help you insert or remove the plug if you need to, say, pack your ball in your car if you're relocating. Balls, like tires, may require a little air pressure maintenance but the petroleum jelly can help significantly reduce the number of times you'll need to pump air into the ball. Since I use the ball about 8-10 hours per day I still need to pump air from time to time. But it's only like once a month or maybe a little longer. Prior to using petroleum jelly I got about two weeks of full time use before needing to pump air into the ball -- but now that's much less of an issue.
Oh, the final thing: if you intend to use the ball as a desk chair, you'll find a new variety with a base and back. These ball chairs basically reduce any benefit you would otherwise gain in muscle strengthening and posture improvement.
I hope the thought about using a lubricant to help seal the plug is useful for you. I was concerned about leaky balls when I was shopping around based on the reviews. You might find this ball suits your needs, or perhaps another brand works just as well if you understand how to create a better seal.
| Brand | Body-Solid |
|---|---|
| Material | Plastic |
| Color | Green |
| Age Range (Description) | Adult |
| Item Weight | 1 Pounds |
| Sport | Exercise & Fitness |
| Number of Items | 1 |
| Item Package Dimensions L x W x H | 9.4 x 6.4 x 6.4 inches |
| Package Weight | 1.8 Pounds |
| Item Dimensions LxWxH | 9 x 6.5 x 6 inches |
| Brand Name | Body-Solid |
| Warranty Description | 30 Day Warranty |
| Model Name | BSTSB45 |
| Suggested Users | unisex-adult |
| Manufacturer | Body Solid |
| Part Number | BSTSB45 |
| Model Year | 2012 |
| Style | 45 cm |
| Included Components | Exercise ball, hand pump |
| Size | 45cm |
