Exercise Ball How to Use & Care For It Properly

Ball Exercise Use Tips

Exercise ball how to use it, get it to last & get you money's worth out of it! Your exercise ball should require very little care, but you can extend its life by taking a few extra precautions.

Exercise Ball How to Use and Tips on Storage

Keep your ball out of direct sunlight and heat when possible. High temperatures can wear down the latex and vinyl causing your ball to puncture more easily.

Avoid using your exercise ball in a swimming pool because chlorine can also cause wear and tear on your ball.

Remember to remove your keys from your pockets, any sharp jewelry, belt buckles or anything else that could possibly puncture your ball. Burst resistant balls will not explode when punctured, but can still tear.

Avoid using your exercise ball outside if possible to avoid the heat and sharp objects.

Keep your ball away from pets when possible. Just one bite (no matter how friendly!) will deflate and destroy your ball for good.

If your ball seems to stay under-inflated, it may have developed a small crack or leak (similar to a tire) that allows air to escape slowly and silently. Unfortunately, if this is the case, it will be time to get a new ball.

If your ball gets dirty, rinse them and then air dry them thoroughly. Avoid harsh cleaning products that may harm your exercise ball.

Exercise Ball How to Use and Tips on Inflating It

Make sure your ball is at room temperature before starting to inflate it.

Remove the air plug, if your ball came with the plug already in place. Do not use a sharp object, instead, using a coin should work well.

Unfold your exercise ball and smooth out any folds and wrinkles. A good place to do this is on the floor.

Most balls come with a custom ball pump and/or adapter for a bike pump. If your ball has a custom pump, insert the tip into the ball's air hole and begin inflating.

If your ball doesn't have its own pump, it should come with an adapter that fits into most bike pumps. The adapter will be threaded on one end in order to attach to the end of the bike pump. Then, insert the needle into the ball and start pumping. However, bike pumps are made to inflate small objects at a higher pressure, so it may take longer to inflate your ball.

At first inflate your ball to approximately 80% of its full size and let it sit overnight. This allows the air to settle and the material on your ball to stretch.

Then, the next morning, finish inflating your ball to the size indicated on the package. Each ball has a maximum diameter written in centimeters (cm.) and inches (in.). For instance, if you ball is 55cm (22in), you can put a piece of tape along the wall 55 centimeters or 22 inches from the floor. Once your ball is fully inflated, the top of the ball should reach the tape mark. Read more about exercise ball sizing.

Congratulations! Your ball is now ready for use. To get started enjoying the benefit of exercise ball exercises right away, use our Free Fitness Ball Exercise Routine!

Return from Exercise Ball How to Use to Abs Exercise Advice Home Page