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Many professions require you to sit at an office desk and as a result most of us are much too sedentary.
This can cause an array of health problems, such as a weakening of the core muscles and poor posture. So, what’s the solution?
We have a good one: a balance ball chair. These work to engage the muscles supporting the spine and the core for an overall improvement in health.
We’ve done the research so you don’t have to. Let’s take a look!
Best Exercise Ball Chairs
| LuxFit Exercise Ball Chair | PharMeDoc Balance Ball Chair | Gaiam Classic Balance Ball Chair | |
|---|---|---|---|
 | |||
| Ball Size: | 22-25 inches | 20 inches | 20 inches |
| Max Weight: | 300 pounds | 300 pounds | 300 pounds |
| Colors: | 1 | 1 | 9 |
Quick Answer: The 5 Best-Rated Balance Ball Chairs For 2020
- Gaiam Classic Balance Ball Chair
- PharMeDoc Balance Ball Chair
- LuxFit Exercise Ball Chair
- Aeromats Deluxe Fitness Ball Chair
- Isokinetics Inc. Fitness Ball Chair
Our reviews of the top rated exercise ball chairs with a comparison table and our buyers guide below will help you choose the right one.
Balance Ball Chair Reviews
#1 LuxFit Exercise Ball Chair
The LuxFIt Ball Chair is not only one of the best stability ball chairs we’ve had the joy of using, but also one of the best budget products.
If you’re tight on cash, then we can’t recommend this one enough! Coming in just Black, there isn’t a lot to choose from as far as looks go, but functionality is another story.
The chair height ranges from anywhere between 22 – 25 inches, depending on how much you inflate the ball. With a weight capacity of 300 pounds, it’s made to last you for years of use.
Expand To See More Designed by health experts, the LuxFit stability ball chair has been engineered to help prevent spine disorders and heal already-existing ones. The large wheels make it easy to roll smoothly from place-to-place without having to get up from your seat and the base is set high enough that the ball won’t pick up any lint or hair from the floor. The backrest is also removable, but unfortunately not adjustable. Hopefully you won’t even need to use it. If you do run into any hurdles, know that the model comes with a no-hassle, 2-year warranty to ensure that you’re covered if something happens. The PharMeDoc Balance Ball Chair is another forward-thinking design, comprised of a Physioform balance ball, base, and back rest. At first glance, there are many similarities between this one and the Gaia model, but this one comes with a removable back rest option. Why have it removable? Expand To See More To give you more freedom in how you use the exercise ball chair while also encouraging the strengthening of the spinal erector muscles. As you build up strength, you can take it off, leaving your body to be fully self-sufficient. In fact, this best exercise ball chair has been proven to improve posture. Not only that, but you’ll find yourself to feel more energetic and overall in a better mood. Like the previous product, this one is also 52 centimeters and supports up to 300 pounds, which is more than enough for most. The hand pump which comes included makes it quick and easy to fill, while optimizing “bounceability”. You can choose to use the wheels to roll freely around your office, or lock them to stay in one spot. While it only comes in a single color, Black, it also comes with something that more than makes up for it: a lifetime manufacturer’s warranty! Gaiam is easily one of the most notable names in the yoga industry, consistently manufacturing long-lasting, quality products. Their Classic Balance Ball Chair is also one of their best-selling products, which is really saying something. Coming in 9 different colors like Wasabi Green, Ocean Blue, and Fuschia, you can easily add some character to the office while expressing your personality. Expand To See More Once you open up the package, you’ll find an all-rubber, 52-centimeter ball, an air pump, an adjustable metal support bar, 4 easy-glide casters, and a desktop exercise guide to give you ideas for staying active throughout the day. Assembly is quick and easy, designed to change the way you sit. The back of the chair is 2.5 feet tall, working with users whose heights range from 5’ – 5’11”, however, you can choose to add a couple of inches with their compatible leg extenders which are sold separately. As the chair was designed by a chiropractor, you can expect it to be easier on your spine while promoting boosted energy and focus. The wheels on the base make it easy to move around your desk, but if you need a bit more stability, to two rear wheels do have a lock option. While the best balance ball office chair is a bit more expensive than our other products, it’s well worth the extra cost. It’s one of the most durable balance ball chairs out there and is very versatile considering everything it comes with. One of the best yoga ball chairs out there currently is the Aeromats Deluxe Fitness Ball Chair, which looks quite a bit different from the last few models. As you can tell, it comes with armrests, to give it a more “traditional” office chair look. If you feel you have to have your arms supported, this would be a good option. However, many people prefer having their arms relaxed and armrest-free, to take pressure off of the trapezius and neck muscles. Expand To See More The ergonomic seating design engages the core while reducing stress on the hip and back, which will translate to a better, healthier you in mind and body. The rolling base is also a bit distinct, with 5 rolling wheels to give more stability to the chair, overall. Two of the wheels are lockable, for safety reasons, and to keep you in one place, if you prefer. The weight limit on this balance ball chair is quite a bit less than the previous few, only capable of holding up to 200 pounds. However, if that works for you, then you’ll probably enjoy the phthalate, heavy metal, and latex-free PVC chair. The Isokinetics Inc. Brand Adjustable Fitness Ball Chair is not only one of the most interesting-looking models out there, but one of the best balance ball chairs in general. If you want to really add a splash of character to your environment, then you’ll enjoy the four different color options: Green, Pink, Yellow, or Gray. The frame also comes in two colors: a sleek Black or Silver Flakes which is almost glittery. Expand To See More The ball itself is made of a durable non-latex material which is actually resistant to bursting, making it extremely safe and reliable to use. With a 300-pound weight limit, it works for the majority of consumers, too. This yoga ball chair is quite versatile, letting you choose from 4 leg height positions and 4 back support positions to fit an array of users perfectly. The chair back is super strong so that if you do need to take a rest for whatever reason, it can reliably bear your weight and provide additional lower back support. Take note that some users did find the back a bit “awkward”-feeling as it was more of a roller than the square back others came with. Now that you’ve read through each one of the products, which one have you decided to place in your office? If you’re on-the-fence or just have no idea which one to pick, don’t worry! We know that it can be a complicated process to select just one, so we’ve decided to take the hard work out of the equation. We’ve written up the following buying guide, detailing all of the considerations to take before you select one. By the end, you’ll be 100% confident in which one is right for you! Before anything, your yoga ball chair has to fit you properly in height and be able to adequately support your weight. Look at the weight limit and the height range that the chair you have in mind supports. If you’re a bit taller than what it indicates, most also give you the option of adding on leg extenders which are sold separately. The reason why this is so important, is ergonomics. First, you want to make sure that your knees are going to fit comfortably under your desk. You should also know that for best results, your knees need to be at a right angle. Usually, if you’re 5 feet or shorter, then you’ll want an 18-inch yoga ball. If you’re 5’1” to 5’7”, then opt for a 22-inch model. If you’re 5’8” to 6’1”, then choose the biggest model, which will come in at 30 inches. You’ll want the base to ideally be a couple of inches off the ground, to ensure the actual ball isn’t picking up any cat fur at home or lint at the office. Take a look at the wheels, as well. Bigger wheels are generally going to be smoother and make it faster to get around your desk. Ideally, at least a couple of the wheels will have the option to be locked. This feature will make the chair much safer as you don’t risk it sliding out from under you when you’re not paying attention or have it moving around when you’re trying to focus on a tedious task. The back of any chair is very important. You want yours to be ergonomically designed to help give you proper lumbar support and decrease the stress on your spine. However, as your back and core strengthen, you may choose to have the back removed altogether. Not every model offers a removable back option, but it’s a good idea and something to strive for. As you may have noticed, most of the aforementioned products do not come with armrests. This is a personal preference, but many physical therapists also recommend chairs that come free of armrests. The reason why, is because armrests can actually cause more fatigue and stress on the body, which is anything but rest! Are you someone who loves bright and sparkly or do you prefer an all-uniform black? 3 of the products we’ve reviewed come in all-black which as you know, goes with just about anything and everything. However, there are also a few others which come in bright, unique colors which add a bit of fun and visual pop to what may be an otherwise boring, monotonous time. Warranty is always a good idea to have, especially when dealing with products as fragile as an exercise ball. While it’s not a rule, most can pop quite easily if they accidentally get poked a bit too hard. If this happens, and you have no warranty, then you’re out all the money you spent on it. The warranty will have you covered so that’s one less thing you have to worry about. We recommend models with at least a year of coverage so you can make sure it’s a quality product that won’t give out on you. Do you have a budget in mind for your new yoga ball balance chair? If not, then it’s a good time to come up with one, as the prices range quite a bit. When you go up in price, you’ll receive an array of benefits. One, you’ll probably have more choices in color and design. Two, is that you’ll get a bit more flexibility with the back and base of the chair. Finally, expect it to last longer thanks to the more expensive materials they’re comprised of. A: The benefits are quite possibly endless, but let’s take a look at a few. A: If you’d had any type of abdominal or back surgery, you’ll probably be better off at least starting with a type of traditional chair that features an ergonomic design to avoid excess stress on our body. There are also some offices that prefer more uniform looks throughout, and do not like the use of yoga ball chairs. A: It’s normal to feel a bit sluggish or fatigued, but not in pain. If you have a weak core or back muscles, then your body will have to struggle a bit to gain that strength back which is more easily obtained with a yoga ball chair. A: It works by keeping your body slightly off balance so it has to keep making small adjustments to correct itself. This works the muscles in your back, abdominals, gluteal muscles, and leg muscles. This is what’s referred to as “active sitting” rather than just tossing yourself into a chair and having your body take its shape. Plenty of people want to take full advantage of the benefits these chairs offer, and take the back off before they even get started. If you don’t already have great posture, this can end up being too uncomfortable for you and you’re not going to want to use it. What you can do, alternatively, is start out by relying on the back a bit and as you gain strength, take it off. Over time, the yoga ball is going to start to deflate a bit. This happens with regular use and isn’t a sign of a leak unless it’s rapidly deflating. Make sure that you keep it inflated at the same level so your body isn’t changing its position in relation to your keyboard, computer screen, and desk. This is a normal process with these products, but make sure you’re not going to overpump and possibly make it explode. There are some that are anti-burst, where if they are poked or stabbed, they will deflate slowly rather than explode. This is one of the most important safety features. The other is locking wheels. You may not need all of them to lock, but at least two of them should do the trick. We know that that was probably a lot to take in, but now that you’ve had the chance to read through the buying guide, FAQs, tips, and the products, do you know which one you’ll be using in your office? While all of them are undoubtedly great, it’s important that you select the best one for you. Consider how long you’ll be using it for, your body type, and preferences. We hope that our guide has helped you select the perfect match. Thanks for tuning in, and we’ll see you again shortly. In March 2019 Amazon announced that Health Savings Accounts and Flexible Spending Accounts (HSA/FSA) would be accepted as new forms of payment for eligible product purchases. Using HSA/FSA funds to purchase on Amazon can be a great way to reduce taxes and reduce overall healthcare costs for items not covered under medical insurance. Users of such medical savings plans are issued a debit card by their provider, which can be added to their payment methods in their Amazon account. Whether items sold on Amazon are deemed as eligible for HSA/FSA plans remains the responsibility of the buyer and their particular health plan provider. It’s ultimately up to the IRS and participating health plan providers to deem which medical and health products are considered eligible for the payment plans. But the eligibility is quite broad and inclusive of thousands of products that are sold on Amazon and considered Health Savings and Flexible Spending Accounts plan-eligible. See this IRS document for more information about Health Savings and Flexible Spending Accounts: https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p969.pdf#2 PharMeDoc Balance Ball Chair with Back Support
#3 Gaiam Classic Balance Ball Chair
#4 Aeromats Deluxe Fitness Ball Chair
#5 Isokinetics Inc. Brand Adjustable Fitness Ball Chair
Balance Ball Chair Comparison
Exercise Ball Chairs Ball Size Max Weight Colors Rating LuxFit Exercise Ball Chair 22"-25" 300 lbs 1 4.0 / 5.0 PharMeDoc Balance Ball Chair with Back Support 20" 300 lbs 1 4.4 / 5.0 Gaiam Classic Balance Ball Chair 20" 300 lbs 9 4.0 / 5.0 Aeromats Deluxe Fitness Ball Chair 22" 200 lbs 1 3.8 / 5.0 Isokinetics Inc. Brand Adjustable Fitness Ball Chair 22" 300 lbs 4 4.1 / 5.0 How to Choose the Best Balance Ball Chair
Height and Weight
Base and Wheels
Back
Armrests
Color and Design
Warranty
Price
FAQs About Balance Ball Chairs
Q: What are the benefits of a yoga ball office chair?
Q: Is there anyone who shouldn’t use these kinds of chairs
Q: Is it normal to feel sluggish after using the chair?
Q: How does a yoga ball chair work?
Tips For Using Your Balance Ball Chair
#1: To encourage regular use without burnout, start out by using the back that comes with your chair.
#2: Make sure you’re regularly inflating the ball.
#3: Once you receive the ball, you’ll probably have to inflate it a couple more times before use.
#4: Make sure the model comes equipped with proper safety features.
Final Thoughts
Notice:
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