# Balls for chairs. Increased productivity, or not? Kids say yes! **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 9, 2008, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/balls-for-chairs-increased-productivity-or-not-kids-say-yes/432877 "2008-01-09T17:46:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![fisha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/da6949/32.png) [@fisha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fisha)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2008, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/balls-for-chairs-increased-productivity-or-not-kids-say-yes/432877/1 "2008-01-09T17:46:51Z")
[http://www.startribune.com/local/west/11549666.html](http://www.startribune.com/local/west/11549666.html) I have a ball in my office that I sit on when working. (Or messing around on the 'Dope.) It strengthens my abs and back muscles, but not sure if it leads to productivity. It does keep me from just leaning back and relaxing. Opinions? ---
**Author:** ![mnemosyne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c4cdca/32.png) [@mnemosyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mnemosyne)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2008, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/balls-for-chairs-increased-productivity-or-not-kids-say-yes/432877/2 "2008-01-09T20:10:19Z")
[QUOTE=fisha] [http://www.startribune.com/local/west/11549666.html](http://www.startribune.com/local/west/11549666.html) I have a ball in my office that I sit on when working. (Or messing around on the 'Dope.) It strengthens my abs and back muscles, but not sure if it leads to productivity. It does keep me from just leaning back and relaxing. Opinions? [/QUOTE] Sometimes I think I’d like to get one, to use occasionally when I study/do homework. I hate sitting “normally” in chairs - I’m that student that’s constantly shifting around in her seat, trying to get comfortable! I think a ball to sit on would be more comfortable, without me wishing I could just sit cross-legged, or with one leg over the chair’s arm! Even if, in a study, it doesn’t lead to an increased productivity, if the people using them _feel_ they are more productive, overall, that’s good for the company. I read a similar thing regarding ipods/mp3 players at work; rates of productivity didn’t go up (or down), but employees were happier and less stressed. Hard to say that isn’t a good thing! ---
**Author:** ![SSG\_Schwartz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@SSG\_Schwartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SSG_Schwartz)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2008, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/balls-for-chairs-increased-productivity-or-not-kids-say-yes/432877/3 "2008-01-09T21:28:58Z")
I say fascinating idea. Balls for chairs, proms for tables, then a sock hop for a love seat. SSG Schwartz ---
**Author:** ![Drain\_Bead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e47774/32.png) [@Drain\_Bead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drain_Bead)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2008, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/balls-for-chairs-increased-productivity-or-not-kids-say-yes/432877/4 "2008-01-09T21:55:35Z")
Somehow, I thought this thread was going to be about a new version of [these](http://www.bullsballs.com/). I was wondering how they contributed to productivity in the slightest, or how they were appropriate for children. ---
**Author:** ![fisha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/da6949/32.png) [@fisha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fisha)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2008, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/balls-for-chairs-increased-productivity-or-not-kids-say-yes/432877/5 "2008-01-09T22:05:55Z")
[QUOTE=Drain Bead] Somehow, I thought this thread was going to be about a new version of [these](http://www.bullsballs.com/). I was wondering how they contributed to productivity in the slightest, or how they were appropriate for children. [/QUOTE] That’s just so wrong. Fake balls hanging from your office chair? ---
**Author:** ![Mahna\_Mahna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e47c2d/32.png) [@Mahna\_Mahna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahna_Mahna)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2008, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/balls-for-chairs-increased-productivity-or-not-kids-say-yes/432877/6 "2008-01-09T22:21:54Z")
I’d love to do this. Sadly, I’m a bit of a desk nomad at the moment, and carrying around my ball to that day’s temporary location is just a giant PITA. This will change as soon as I have a proper permanent desk to call my own, though. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2008, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/balls-for-chairs-increased-productivity-or-not-kids-say-yes/432877/7 "2008-01-09T22:31:48Z")
I sit on my balls every day. ---
**Author:** ![SSG\_Schwartz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@SSG\_Schwartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SSG_Schwartz)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2008, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/balls-for-chairs-increased-productivity-or-not-kids-say-yes/432877/8 "2008-01-09T22:36:43Z")
[QUOTE=Boyo Jim] I sit on my balls every day. [/QUOTE] Try [this](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=orymhgZ6XoA). (Links to video, probably NSFW) SSG Schwartz ---
**Author:** ![Scarlett67](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scarlett67/32/7387_2.png) [@Scarlett67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scarlett67)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2008, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/balls-for-chairs-increased-productivity-or-not-kids-say-yes/432877/9 "2008-01-10T15:43:22Z")
I have a balance ball chair (not just the ball, but a rolling frame with casters and a low back support), and I know of several editors who sit on an exercise ball at their desks. I believe the benefit is not so much productivity as ergonomics; the ball keeps you from slouching and exercises your stabilizer muscles. ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2008, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/balls-for-chairs-increased-productivity-or-not-kids-say-yes/432877/10 "2008-01-10T16:00:57Z")
For those not interested in the whole article, here’s the best bits: > [@](#): > > Students at Zion Lutheran School in Mayer thought Principal Deb Kelzer was kidding when she proposed that they give up their classroom chairs and instead sit on large rubber exercise balls. > > \ > > It made a lot of sense to the kids," said Bob Nellis of the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, which conducted a study on the benefits of a chairless classroom last year. “Kids move around. They’re supposed to be active.” > > The Mayo study on the classroom of the future focused on improving learning, but it soon became apparent that having students move produced considerable benefits. > > With the balls, fidgety students or those with attention deficit disorder have an outlet for their excess energy. Concentration increases for everyone because of the noise reduction. And physical conditioning is improved because of the work involved in staying on top of the ball. This is absolutely brilliant, and I’m so happy that for once a school administrator is interested in actually helping the kids deal with the wiggles, instead of trying to discipline it out of them. And, I’m gonna go get a ball for my desk. It never occurred to me that all my time here on the Dope can be Core Training time! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![fisha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/da6949/32.png) [@fisha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fisha)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2008, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/balls-for-chairs-increased-productivity-or-not-kids-say-yes/432877/11 "2008-01-10T16:41:40Z")
[QUOTE=WhyNot] For those not interested in the whole article, here’s the best bits: This is absolutely brilliant, and I’m so happy that for once a school administrator is interested in actually helping the kids deal with the wiggles, instead of trying to discipline it out of them. And, I’m gonna go get a ball for my desk. It never occurred to me that all my time here on the Dope can be Core Training time! 😃 [/QUOTE] You’ll notice that really small muscles in your back will ache for the first couple of days. The school is somewhat close to our town, and my kids have brought in several different articles trying to lobby to have balls installed in their school. No luck yet. ---
**Author:** ![Bearflag70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Bearflag70](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bearflag70)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2008, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/balls-for-chairs-increased-productivity-or-not-kids-say-yes/432877/12 "2008-01-10T16:55:56Z")
Better thread title: Kids love their balls ---
**Author:** ![koeeoaddi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/koeeoaddi/32/408_2.png) [@koeeoaddi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/koeeoaddi)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2008, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/balls-for-chairs-increased-productivity-or-not-kids-say-yes/432877/13 "2008-01-10T19:12:30Z")
Didn’t work out so hot for [Casey Serin](http://www.caseypedia.com/wiki/Blue_Ball). ---
**Author:** ![tremorviolet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e47774/32.png) [@tremorviolet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tremorviolet)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2008, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/balls-for-chairs-increased-productivity-or-not-kids-say-yes/432877/14 "2008-01-10T20:08:45Z")
I used to have one and it was pretty good from keeping me from getting distracted. I could move around more so I wouldn’t get as fidgity. IT also does work the core; it would make me tired and I’d have to switch between the ball and the chair when I first started using it. But sadly, it rolled into my (unapporved) space heater and melted. I need to get another one…