What Size Exercise Ball to Buy For Your Height

How to Choose and Use an Exercise Ball

Fri, 04/17/2009 - 10:00am by FitSugar

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Yoga ball, exercise ball, gym ball, fitness ball — whatever you call it, it's a must have for all active people. An exercise ball can be used for both stretching and toning exercises, but if you're new to this piece of gym equipment, here are some things you should know.

When choosing an exercise ball, you should know they come in three sizes, depending on your height. Check the list below to see which size is right for you before purchasing one.

4'11" to 5'4" height: 55 cm ball
5'4" to 5'11" height: 65 cm ball
5'11" to 6' 7" height: 75 cm ball

Now that you know which size ball to use, here are some ways you can use it:

• Use the ball as a weight bench. Lie across it on your back and do chest presses, tricep presses, or lying pec flies to work your upper body. Since you're using your legs to keep your body stable, you end up toning your glutes, quads, and hamstrings as well.

To see the other exercise ball ideas, read more.

• Use it to elevate parts of your body. Raising your upper or lower body on a ball can help target specific muscle groups more effectively. Try doing push-ups or bridge leg lifts with a ball and you'll end up working many muscles at one time.
• Do ab work. Crunches, abdominal twists, and bicycle crunches are so much more challenging on a ball, since lying on one engages your abs even before you start doing any exercises.
• Do yoga and Pilates moves. You can tone and increase flexibility by using a ball to do basic poses and exercises. Do backbends and back strengthening exercises such as prone leg raises. A ball can also support your body weight to help you balance when trying challenging poses such as scorpion.

# This item: TKO Anti Burst Fitness Ball Set 75cm by TKO
# TKO Anti Burst Fitness Ball Set 65cm by TKO
# TKO Anti Burst Fitness Ball Set 55cm by TKO

Top Stories

Millions of exercise balls recalled due to explosion risk

Story By: Jamie Smith
Source: NBC

Published Tue Apr 21, 2009, 08:34 AM MDT
Updated Tue Apr 21, 2009, 08:34 AM MDT

Millions of fitness balls have been recalled due to risk of explosion The Consumer Product Safety Commission says over inflated balls can suddenly burst while in use, causing the user to suddenly fall to the floor.

The CPSC has received 47 reports of the balls bursting causing injury in some cases. The balls were distributed by EB Brand and were sold under the names Bally, Total Fitness, Everlast, Valeo and Body Fit.

Concerned consumers can return the balls to the place of purchase or contact EB Brands to receive a copy of the updated instructions on how to safely inflate the ball.