Stability Ball - One size fits all?

dss62467

Cathlete
I bought my stability ball about a month ago and got the 55 cm one (for shorties). I notice that in the workouts where Cathe is using them, everyone seems to be using the same size - and it's much larger than mine. I know that Cathe is shorter, so I'm just wondering if I really should have gotten a larger one. It's very difficult to do those pike moves on my smaller ball. I don't know if that's because the ball is too small, or I just haven't gotten it down yet.
 
I have a 65 cm one and I'm also 5'2". I find it easier than a smaller one, but that's just me. I also have a 55 cm one that I use for a few things in Core Foundations. But to sit on the ball and in doing pikes, I personally find the 65 cm one easier to work with.

Carol
:)
 
Like Carol, the 65 works better for me also. I discovered the same thing as you, I had originally bought a 55 based on my height, but found it wasn't big enough. We happened to have a 65 that my DH used for his back and it's perfect! My pikes improved! :) :)

Jo
 
I agree...I originally bought the ball for medium height, which I am, but was not comfortable on it. Bought the biggest ball...love it.

One thing I've noticed is I have to keep it really firm...after about a week it doesn't feel right to me & I have to "top it off".

Ruth:)
 
I'm 5'6"and have always used a 55 cm ball (going by the guidelines from some ball website). Works for me! The general guideline for using the ball for exercise is that your knees should be at a 90-degree angle when you sit (your knees shouldn't be higher than your hips). When using the ball as an office chair, the next larger size is recommended.
 
As an OFFICE CHAIR? Seriously?!? Hee hee...I just get this mental image of myself taking one into my office, placing it behind my desk and sitting on it in my business suits and high heels. That would be a hoot.:7
 
For what it's worth: I also have a 55 stability ball, and I thought Cathe's must be larger because it looks so. I e-mailed SNM, and they said Cathe and crew used a 55. The balls on the BB do look larger to me, and I'm only a little taller (5'3") and not overweight, so I'm not sure why. I have made sure the air is full, and that's made some difference --- but Cathe and crew still seem to have more ball underneath them!
 
Yeah, I'm not buying that. I think their ball is bigger and SNM misinformed you. I thought that maybe the ball I got was actually a 45 cm after reading this, but I measured it and it's definitely 55 cm. Maybe theirs is just wider around? I suppose that could be. It's definitely bigger than my 55 cm. I've ordered the next size up because I don't have a 90 degree angle when I sit on the 55 cm (I'm only 5'0"). I just ordered a HUGE one for my husband (6'2"). It's going to be really fun trying to find a place to hide that sucker when it's not in use!
 
OK - I was just thinking about this post while working out this morning and realized what an incredibly stupid thing I said. A ball cannot possible wider around than it is high - it would then be a stability oval. Please forgive me geometry brain-death. I was much better at calculus.:)
 
>OK - I was just thinking about this post while working out
>this morning and realized what an incredibly stupid thing I
>said. A ball cannot possible wider around than it is high -
>it would then be a stability oval. Please forgive me geometry
>brain-death. I was much better at calculus.:)


Actually, it can LOOK wider around than it is high if it is less inflateda and someone is sitting on it! They also make stability "balls" that are peanut shaped and oval shaped.
 

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