How to care for your exercise ball
Inspecting the exercise ball
When your exercise ball arrives,
remove it from the packaging and inspect for shipping
damage. Don't worry if your ball has slight fold marks -
this is normal. Spread the ball out on the floor, allowing most
of the creases to come out. The ball should be flat, with
the hole open.
If the ball feels cold or hot to
the touch, allow it to come to room temperature before
inflating.
Once the exercise ball is at room
temperature, remove its plug. Your ball may contain a
packet with an extra plug and an adaptor (distinguishable from
the plug by being threaded on one end so it can attach to a bike
pump or compressor).
Inflating the exercise ball
Note the ball's maximum diameter
(height off the floor) - this information is printed on the
ball. Before inflating, measure and mark the ball's
maximum diameter on a door or wall. You will inflate the
exercise ball according to size, not pressure.
Begin inflating. This is
most easily accomplished using an electric air compressor or a
hand pump having a cone-shaped nozzle (Our Faster-Blaster
pump works great!). If you don't have either of
these, visit your local car or tire repair shop and see if you
can't use their compressed air to blow up the ball.
When the ball approaches the mark
you made on the wall, quickly insert the plug into the
ball. Use a yardstick from the top of the ball to the wall
to compare the ball's height to the mark. If necessary,
add more air. Stop inflating when the ball either
of two situations exists:
-
You are comfortable sitting
on the ball, or
-
The ball reaches the level of
the mark.
As you fill, periodically test
for comfort. Sit on the ball. Do your hips and knees
form a 90-degree angle to each other? If so,
perfect. Your ball has enough air. Don't worry if
you haven't reached the wall mark. The ball will not be as
firm if under-inflated, but it will work fine.
Unless you achieve sitting
comfort sooner, continue adding air until the exercise ball reaches the level of the mark, then stop. Do
not over-inflate the ball! You should be able to push
the ball inward roughly 2" when it is fully inflated.
You might want to re-check the
inflation of your exercise ball after 24 hours, since the ball
may stretch slightly. If it has, simply inflate again
until you achieve sitting comfort, or reach the mark level,
whichever comes first.
Your ball is now ready to
use.
There is nothing difficult or
mysterious about caring for an exercise ball. Just take
common-sense precautions. Here are some general guidelines:
| Do |
Don't |
|
Check for sharp
objects before using. Examine the area and
your clothing for items that could puncture the
ball. Burst-resistant balls will not explode if
punctured, but they can still tear. |
Do not use your ball
outdoors. This increases the risk of puncture. |
| Regularly
check your ball for gouges or deep
scratches. |
Do
not let the ball come in contact with materials printed
in black ink. The ink in newspapers,
photocopies, etc. can permanently mark the ball. |
|
Clean
your exercise ball with a soft cloth and warm, soapy
water.
|
Do
not use harsh, abrasive chemical cleaners. These
might scratch the ball. |
