I rec'd one for my b-day from the doc I work for. He wants to start using it in his practice this fall so I guess this is a hint that I should learn how to use this correctly. Right now I am working on the "core" exercises and trying to keep my balance. Anyone use one of these? Good? Bad? Ugly?

I use a fitness ball and a styrofoam roller. Most of the exercises I do are specifically for stretching, some for core strengthening, and others to help with my balance/proprioception.

What is the styrofoam roller?

You can go to amazon and search foam roller, or even google. It's a roller that you use to stretch with and it also helps with core strengthening.

You can lay on it longwise, in other words so that it runs down your back, and then work on try to balance on it, lifting first your arms, then trying to lift your arms off the floor, plus a leg at a time. I guess some people get good enough to balance without their arms or feet touching the floor (but not me, LOL.)

A stretch I love is to place it horizontally on the floor and then lean back onto it and try to let your head touch the floor (arms behind your head as in a sit up position.) You start with the roller a couple inches about your waist, and every set, move the roller up a few inches till you end with it up above your shoulder blades. My spine sounds like popcorn when I do that stretch.

Another thing you can do is lay on your side, place the roller horizontally under your knee, then move your body so that the roller massages the muscles on the outside of the thigh (ouch)...you'd be surprised how many tight spots there are in there.


I googled and found this page showing a guy doing some of the exercises with a foam roller:
http://www.sheboyganfalls.k12.wi.us/staff/...oamrollerex.htm

Okay, I get it. Thanks Dawn. Interesting.

I haven't used an exercise ball yet myself, but my SIL is a personal trainer and told me I should get one. I think they are supposed to be pretty good. Thanks for the reminder!

Layne

My massage therapist suggested using a fitness ball to sit on while I'm using the computer...what a difference! I have low back problems (too many years in the landscaping business) and sitting on regular chairs gets uncomfortable. If my back gets tight, I just rotate my hips while sitting on the ball and the kinks loosen up. I've also used it for both push-ups and sit-ups also. Give it a try!

I never thought about using it as a chair. Hmmmm.......