Should you swap your chair for an exercise ball?

Yoga ball chairs are all the rage.

And some manufacturers have put out office chairs that hold a yoga ball.

Woman sitting on an exercise ball chair in an office

Blend Images / Hill Street Studios / Collection:Brand X Pictures / Getty Images

But are they really good for your core and back, as some claim?

The jury is still out on that one.

It is also used to help people with back pain increase their ability to perform daily activities.

Any kind of sitting increases compression on your spine.

Remember, the ball doesnotsupport your back musclesit only challenges them.

Again, get your healthcare provider’s approval before trying this.

If possible, ask your physical therapist for some things you might do on the ball.

Jackson JA, Banerjee-Guenette P, Gregory DE, Callaghan JP.Should we be more on the ball?

2013;55(6):10641076. doi:10.1177/0018720813482326