Sitting on stability balls: biomechanics evaluation in a workplace setting

Area of Science:

• Occupational Health
• Ergonomics
• Worksite Health Promotion

Background:

• Traditional office chairs may contribute to discomfort and poor posture.
• Alternative seating options are being explored in workplace health initiatives.
• Stability balls and chairs offer potential ergonomic benefits.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of stability balls and stability ball chairs as alternatives to regular office chairs.
• To assess self-reported outcomes including posture, balance, energy, performance, safety, and pain.
• To compare these outcomes against a control group using standard office chairs.

Main Methods:

• A 3-month cross-over trial was conducted across three medical facilities.
• 159 employees rotated monthly between stability balls, stability ball chairs, and regular office chairs.
• Self-reported questionnaires measured perceived posture, balance, energy, job performance, safety, and pain.

Main Results:

• Stability ball and stability ball chair use was associated with improved perceived posture compared to office chairs (p < 0.0001).
• Stability ball use improved energy levels (p = 0.007), and stability ball chairs improved overall balance (p = 0.05).
• Stability ball use reduced pain likelihood from ~45% to 21%, but 42-45% reported pain with the alternative seating.

Conclusions:

• Stability balls and chairs can enhance perceived posture, energy, and balance in the workplace.
• While reducing reliance on regular office chairs, a significant percentage of users reported pain with stability ball use.
• A careful consideration of perceived risks and benefits is crucial before implementing stability ball seating.