Exercise Ball vs. Desk Chair

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By Anahad O’Connor

THE FACTS Exercise balls are becoming a popular alternative to plain old office chairs, a way — some say — to burn more calories and improve posture.

The increase in the calorie burn is real but small. According to a 2008 study, performing clerical work at a desk while sitting on an exercise ball burns about four more calories an hour than the same activity in a chair, or roughly 30 extra calories in a typical workday.

And that figure does not factor in the additional burn that would come from routines like bouncing or leg lifts, which many users say the balls inspire them to do.

But as far as posture is concerned, there is not exactly a compelling body of evidence. Although proponents say the balls force users to sit up straight to stabilize themselves, a 2009 British study found that prolonged sitting on a therapy ball led to just as much slumping and "poor sitting position" as a desk chair.

Another study last year, by Dutch researchers, compared workers who did hourlong typing tasks on exercise balls and while seated in office chairs with armrests. The balls produced more muscle activity and 33 percent more "trunk motion." But they also produced more spinal shrinkage.

"It is concluded that the advantages with respect to physical loading of sitting on an exercise ball may not outweigh the disadvantages," the researchers wrote.

Other studies have had similar results.

THE BOTTOM LINE Sitting on an exercise ball burns more energy than sitting on an office chair, but the evidence that it improves posture is lacking.

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