An effective physical simulator that allows you to play sports at home is a gymnastic ball. How to choose the size? It depends on many factors that should be considered when buying this accessory. This sports equipment is very popular today due to its versatility, convenience, ease of use, as well as an affordable price. In addition, these accessories are widely used both for classes with children and future mothers, who even in position tend to keep themselves in good shape.
First - take into account the weight
Experts advise choosing the ball based on its own weight. The main thing - do not buy a cheap accessory, which not only does not differ in quality, but also, most likely, will not be very convenient to use. It is important that the fitball is resilient and durable - in this case it will be able to support your weight.
And if you will perform strength training, you need a strong and reliable gymnastic ball. How to choose the size? Remember that high-quality models can withstand loads of more than 300 kg. For children, small balls with a diameter of up to 65 cm are quite suitable, which have a sufficient margin of safety, and therefore are absolutely safe.
The second is material
A good fitball should be made of durable materials that have a good electrostatic effect. If the surface of the product is porous, then it will absorb dust, sweat. Therefore, it is important to check the smoothness of the material, its elasticity - there should not be wrinkles on the ball. Otherwise, know that this is a low-quality product that will not help you with sports activities.
How to choose a gymnastic ball? Pay attention that the surface is clean, smooth, without protruding seams and bulges. The best materials are PVC and latex.
Height
The size of the ball directly depends on the growth of the athlete. Notably, this sports equipment is suitable for both adults and children. The variety of configurations allows you to choose a gymnastic ball suitable for a particular person. How to choose the size?
So, based on growth, we need shells of the following sizes:
- up to 155 cm fitball should be 45-55 cm in diameter;
- with growth of 155-169 cm, choose balls with a diameter of 55 cm;
- fitballs of 65 cm are suitable for growth of 170-185 cm;
- when growing above 186 cm, the diameter of the ball should be 75 cm.
Arm length
Professional instructors who teach Pilates or gymnastics suggest taking into account the length of the arm in order to choose the right gymnastic ball. How to choose the size in this case?
To determine this parameter, you need to measure the length of the arm, starting from the shoulder joint and ending with the tips of outstretched fingers:
- if the arm length is up to 55 cm, you need a ball with a diameter of 45-55 cm;
- with a arm length of 56-65 cm, the fitball should be 55 cm in diameter;
- with a length of 66-75 cm, the diameter of the ball should be 65 cm.
To understand whether the product is right for you, you need to check the following: when sitting on the fitball in a sitting position, the angles between the body, thigh, lower leg and foot should be about 90-100 degrees.
Are all the balls different?
We talked about how to choose a gymnastic ball for height. But it is important to take into account some external selection parameters:
- Balls can be with handles or in the form of "horns" - most often such models are chosen for children.
- Products with spikes over the entire surface are covered with small balls that have a certain massage effect. Such balls are advisable to use in the treatment of certain diseases, as well as for children's massage. To make the fitball stable, it can have legs supporting it from below.
For babies
Universal and easy to use gymnastic ball. How to choose a size for newborns? In most cases, these parameters vary from 45 to 75 cm, but experts advise choosing a larger ball - it is easier for a child to fit on it. For exercises with babies, you can use fitballs with a diameter of 55-75 cm. It is good if the models are supplemented with handles: they will help to monitor the child, help him to stay on his own. For an adult, a pen is the ability to control the ball, because otherwise it is difficult to grab it during exercise.
So how to choose a gymnastic ball for a child? We offer you to familiarize yourself with some of the nuances:
- the ball should be made of dense, elastic fabric and have a smooth surface;
- when trying to compress on the surface of the gymnastic apparatus, folds should not form, if they are, then the product is of poor quality;
- the nipple must be soldered into the product so that nothing will interfere with movement;
- The gymnastic ball must have an anti-explosive feature, the marking of which is ABS. She talks about the safety of the apparatus for classes.
A few rules in the end
How to choose a gymnastic ball for fitness? To begin with, we will tell you that classes with this sports equipment have become popular not so long ago. It was invented by the famous physiotherapist Joseph Pilates, and fitball differs from the usual ball only in size. All models are used when performing exercises in gymnastics and aerobics. Today, fitness balls are widely used in the prevention of many diseases of the legs, back, hips. They are especially effective in recovering from injuries. Despite the external simplicity of the accessory, it is universal, since it allows you to use almost all muscle groups during training, develops a sense of balance, flexibility, helps to improve posture and relieve fatigue.
When choosing, many are guided by the color of the gymnastic ball. Here psychologists are involved in the work, since each color affects our nervous system in different ways. So, blue and green produce a calming effect, reduce pressure, yellow helps to improve mood and raise energy levels, and orange can relieve depression. If you have weak immunity, then choose a red gymnastic ball.
Terms of Use
Fitball is a safe sports equipment that can easily be inflated with a regular pump manually or automatically. To make it last longer, use the ball only on a smooth and even surface so that there is no risk of mechanical damage. Store products in an inflated condition away from sunlight.
Gymnastic balls are simple sports equipment that nonetheless allows you to solve a number of problems without leaving your home for this. They are absolutely safe, but subject to basic rules. The main thing - do not leave the child, especially a small one, alone with this shell. Today the most popular products of the following brands are Gymnic, Ledragomma, Azuni, Spokey, Torneo. By choosing the right gymnastic ball, you can perform effective exercises at home without any special effort.