Fitness Balls are NOT suitable as Office Chairs

AXIS  is often asked about the use of a fitness ball as a chair. The fitness balls can be a good adjunct to an exercise regime, however use as an office chair is a completely different matter. We do not advocate it. Below is an abstract from the Worksafe Victoria Guidance Notes (06.06.05).

The fitness ball (also known as a 'Swiss', 'exercise' or 'physio' ball) is an inflatable ball designed for use in training and exercise programs. Some organisations and individuals have adapted their original use to one of a dynamic sitting surface, in place of a conventional office or workplace chair, in the belief it may help with low back pain.

The use of a fitness ball to provide exercise oppurtunity should not be confused with the requirement to provide suitable and safe workplace equipment. from the literature to date, researchers do not recommend the fitness ball to be a generic alternative to conventional seating in the workplace.

Using a fitness ball as standard seating would constitute a daily regime of constant exercising. There is no evidence that use of a ball over a day has the beneficial effect that is expected when it is used as just one part of an exercise regime. Providing fitness balls in the workplace may place the employer at risk of introducing a hazard. These could include:

• high levels of fatigue from sustained exercising
• upright postures unlikely to be maintained due to fatigue when no full back and seat support
• employees cannot swivel or navigate around the workstation
• getting on and off or reaching from the ball may constitute a falling hazard
• loose balls may constitute a trip hazard
• sitting surface does not provide adequate support for the buttocks and thighs.