The chairball!

[elfs]

A funny place to sit.
Hosted on Flickr!. Click to enlarge.

A friend of mine wanted a picture of what the chairball I'm using looks like and I couldn't find one, so I took a photo of my own. Yeah, it's dorky looking, and I'm not sure I'm comfortable with it. It takes discipline to make it work. When it rolls, you move with it, so getting it centered in front of the keyboard is something of a trial-and-error procedure. Like those damn Swedish ergonomic chairs, keeping your back straight is entirely up to you. If you don't sit right, your back lets you know. And you have to sit with your legs splayed out in front and to each side, such that you don't roll too far.

And it's way too damn tempting to bounce, especially when I've had two cups of coffee. Still, after a month of it, I'll see where I am. If I like it, I may buy one of my own.

Comments

[shadowfey.livejournal.com]

Looks like it wouldn't really work for those of us challenged by gravity in front.

[intrepid-reason.livejournal.com]

I borrowed one from my boss, I am plannign on buying one for myself.

[kenshardik]

So years of ergonomic research has led us to... a bouncy-ball.

I am so in the wrong field.

[rowanf.livejournal.com]

I've used one off and on for several years. I alternate with a nada chair to remind myself to sit straight. I think the ball really does help with core strength though. But yeah, I sometimes bounce! :-)

[tehrasha.livejournal.com]

Ive been seeing these things crop up all over the place. Usually associated with low-impact fitness and flexability, and even for expectant mothers. But this is the first time Ive heard of it as an ergonomic fixture to replace a chair. Somebody is making a mint on these beach balls. :)

[woggie.livejournal.com]

Would bouncing be so bad? :)

[bldrnrpdx.livejournal.com]

Some of my kids at work use a ball like that (as well as something similar, but shaped more like a peanut) for sitting at circle or even at tables for snack and table games. For them, it's more a matter of heightening their awareness of their own body and their proprioception. While we don't encourage the bouncing, exactly, we don't always discourage it either, if the child is still paying attention to the activity at hand.

[elfs.livejournal.com]

It is most surely undignified!

[woggie.livejournal.com]

All hail the undignified things, that they should keep us from becoming pompous. :)

[kakoukorakos.livejournal.com]

I had such a chair and I did bounce. Often. I really love ball chairs, but after I ruined two of them just a few months apart (one was lost to the cat, another to a sharp on the floor that fell off the desk, probably also thanks to the cat...), I decided to go back to a conventional chair. Well, that plus I'm not spending as much time in front of my computer anymore so I don't get sedentary fatigue from working at the desk. It's a lot more comfortable and easy to change position in so it's less tiring. And better for your back too. After a while it does get easier to balance, and it couldn't hurt to let a little air out if it rolls to easily.

By the way, unless someone is now specifically marketing the balls as chairs, they are simply exercise balls that may be had at most sporting goods stores for around $15-20 for the standard soft rubber ones as it appears you're sitting on. I need to find a source for the tougher industrial balls that pros tend to use, they might stand up better than the ultra-soft rubber "consumer grade" ones that are so easily damaged.

Source for Balls

[(Anonymous)]

http://www.thesaundersgroup.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=81

[kyriani.livejournal.com]

... There is NO way I would be able to stop myself from bouncing like mad on that thing. o_O ^_^ Wheeeeee! It does however look quite comfortable to me, how does it feel on your backside, does it hurt after a while, as its not a normal sitting platform?
How much do they cost? ^_^

[elfs.livejournal.com]

The puncture-proof ones are apparently around $70. And there's an extra bonus: Fidgeting fights Obesity (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A41897-2005Jan27.html).

[mo-hair.livejournal.com]

we use these for all sorts of activities in my pilates class. and people who start off having difficulties with balance find that their core strength picks up pretty darn fast. i'm not exactly slender, and i have a terrible back thanks to moderate-severe scoliosis, but using the silly ball has really helped me with my ab and back strength. sadly, the kids prevent me from using one as a chair in front of my home computer.

[laplor.livejournal.com]

They're the talk of the call-centres and anyplace where people sit for long periods of time. The rolling and (gentle) bouncing does wonders for neck and back stiffness.

I used to work a ten hour shift and our manager made sure there were two or three of the 'stress balls' available. By the end of the night we would have all had a turn or two.

They were especially popular with pregnant staff - almost completely eliminated bad-chair-back.

[dossy.livejournal.com]

Herman Miller meets Pilates Yoga.