I tried one for a while and sitting on non-breathing plastic would quickly become annoying.

I could never sit on it long enough to reap any discernible posture benefits.

I do not have a balance ball but some kind of balance chair. It has no arm and backrests and the seat tilts in all lateral directions. So you have to balance yourself all the time and have to sit actively. I always had problems with my spine, but since I use the chair its gone. Would not want to trade the chair against another.

I give you a month, tops, and you'll be shopping for a real chair.

I tried a ball for a while. It was neat but I used it for less than two weeks and never looked back. I'll be shopping for a quality chair soon.

Ditto buckworks comments. also, eventually, you will learn to slouch on it.

Lately, I work a lot at a stand-up height desk (okay, actually, the kitchen counter) with a bar stool for when I want to sit and can stand if I want. It's really nice after a month or so and I think I may eventually get a genuine standing desk and a chair with a perfectly matched height. Very nice setup.

No balance ball but I did put a board across the arms of our treadmill..and now have a desk for my laptop

I never got on the treadmill for more than 10 minutes a couple times a month, now I am on the treadmill 2-3 times a week for 45 minutes or so each time...still not great but far better than just sitting.

The nice thing is as your mind is working time passes faster ..the problem I have is that using the mouse and pointing at something on the screen while walking takes practice.

I had to stop using it for awhile because I had a lot filing do to and it is easier access the file cabinets from my wheeled chair. However the ball got loose today and while rolling around it hit the back of my office chair with all of the adjustment levers. I couldn't figure out how to get the back rest back into place but it turns out the new "adjustment" seems to be better for my back. So all in all having the ball has worked out for the best so far. :)

[edited by: Jane_Doe at 5:37 am (utc) on Sep. 10, 2008]

There's a guy I know who runs one of the most popular netcast/podcast networks who uses a ball. At first he bought a cheap one and had all sorts of problems with it including having it burst. He replaced it with a "high quality" ball and now swears by it. He sits on it seven days a week for sometimes close to 18 hours a day and swears it's the best seating solution he's ever used. Unlike Jane he has someone to fetch stuff for him; including donuts and coffee. :)

He sits on it seven days a week for sometimes close to 18 hours a day and swears it's the best seating solution he's ever used.

I think long term it will be the answer to improving my posture. I suspect the key is that you have to start out using it like 90 % chair / 10 % ball and then slowly transition until you are at 100 % sitting on the ball. Otherwise your back muscles are going to get sore until they are gradually built up enough and used to really supporting your head and torso all day long.

One more thing. I run an egg timer that essentially goes off every X minutes (40 or 50 works well for me) and tells me to get up and move around. Sometimes I have a cup of tea, sometimes I stretch, sometimes I do pushups, whatever I feel like, but moving is the key I think.

Currently have 31:24 to go!

I've got a Kennsington TrackBall "Expert Mouse". The driver has a built-in timer that lets me know when it's time to get up and move around. This works well for me because I like a cup of espresso about once an hour. LOL. You're right, the simple act of moving around is helpful. Even adjusting your chair is helpful.

I think I'm going to an adjustable height desk so I can sit or stand depending on how my joints feel. Sitting 10 hours a day is torture even with an expensive memory foam chair. The timer idea sounds great.

Google gives all their employees and adjustable height desk so they have the option, but you don't really want to be adjusting the desk, with all that equipment and espreesso on it, throughout the day.

The solution is a chair that adjusts up to bar stool height. The way to think of it is you adjust the table so that when you stand, you are ergonomically correct for typing and viewing your monitor. *then* you adjust your chair so that when sitting, your shoulders are at the same height as when standing. Then you have proper ergonomics either way. Sometimes I'll sit for 15mins and stand for 15, sometimes I'll find myself sitting or standing for hours.

One more thing, you want something nice to stand on. I have a wooden floor so I put a rug down and wear something cushy (Crocs for example). Remember, you'll be on your feet most of the day, so no dress shoes or high heels. No problem for me since I don't actually own either one, but I know some people addicted to "professional" footwear. If that's you, think "professional" as in waiter or cashier, not as in banker or Vegas cocktail waitress.

You could also put do one of those pads that stores provide for cashiers so you don't trash your knees and feet, especially if you have a concrete floor.

I need instructions/suggestions as to how to use a Balance Ball. I have one that I purchased online and it has no instructions. Where can I find them?
Thanks, Maryone

I need instructions/suggestions as to how to use a Balance Ball.

1. Sit on ball.
2. Balance carefully.
3. Relax.
4. Fall off.
Repeat as long as necessary until you determine you need a real chair.
5. Sell ball on internet, without these instructions.

including having it burst - ROFL !